Canada Diwali Event: Following the outcry over reports that his office unexpectedly cancelled a Diwali celebration on Parliament Hill, Canada’s Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre has offered a clarification.
A statement made by the Conservative MP’s office and published by Canadian political analyst Darshan Maharaja on X on Thursday (IST) revealed that the event in question, which has a 23-year history, was never organized by the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the first place.
“To be clear, any suggestion that Mr. Poilievre has cancelled this event is patently false. This event has always been hosted by a member of the Conservative Caucus, this year being MP Doherty, and has never been organized by the Leader of the Opposition or his office. While there have been changes to the location and timing, MP Doherty will still be hosting an event to celebrate Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas in Ottawa with members of the South Asian community and the Conservative Caucus,” the statement read.
“Mr. Poilievre looks forward to celebrating these important cultural and religious occasions with Canadians in the coming days,” it added. The statement came a day after prominent voices from the Hindu community in Canada sharply reacted to the purported cancellation of the Diwali reception.
“A move that sends a clear message of exclusion to a community deeply woven into Canada’s cultural fabric. Diwali, a festival symbolizing light and unity, is celebrated worldwide, with leaders like US President [Joe] Biden and astronaut Sunita Williams honoring it with great respect. Yet, CPC leader Pierre Poilievre has shown a concerning disregard for Canadian Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. This decision is a politically motivated act of appeasement that dismisses a significant, vibrant part of Canadian society,” a statement from the Hindu Forum had said.
“In the upcoming federal elections, let’s choose wisely. Pierre Poilievre is not yet Prime Minister, yet his true colors of appeasement politics show through by canceling Diwali celebrations. If he were to become Prime Minister, what further tactics might he use? Our votes should go to leaders who genuinely respect and stand by all Canadians, and we must make our voices heard. This Diwali, let’s stand together for representation, respect, and true inclusivity,” it had added.
Notably, the incident came amid the prolonged diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that Indian intelligence agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey last year. New Delhi has repeatedly denied the allegations and termed them “absurd” and “motivated”.
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Source: Jagran English
