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The consequences of the dispute between India and Canada? Why did Canadian Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre cancel Diwali celebrations? – First message
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The consequences of the dispute between India and Canada? Why did Canadian Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre cancel Diwali celebrations? – First message

Ties between India and Canada have reached an unprecedented level. The two countries are divided over the assassination of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, with Ottawa pointing the finger at New Delhi. India has accused the North American country of harboring Khalistanis. Amid the ongoing diplomatic row, the office of Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre canceled a Diwali celebration on Parliament Hill, home to the country’s parliament in Ottawa.

No Diwali on Canadian Parliament Hill

The Diwali event was scheduled to take place on Wednesday October 30 but was reportedly canceled without explanation. The celebrations were organized by the
Indian diaspora group, the Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), and was to be hosted by Conservative MP Todd Doherty, according to media reports.

The event has been organized for 23 years and has seen the participation of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists in Canada.

A consequence of the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada?

OFIC President Shiv Bhasker wrote a letter to
Poilievreexpressing dismay at the cancellation of the celebrations. “This event was intended to be a joyous occasion to honor Diwali, a festival that is not only deeply meaningful to the Indo-Canadian community, but also emblematic of the multicultural spirit of which Canada prides itself. However, the sudden withdrawal of political leaders from this event, prompted by the current diplomatic situation between India and Canada, left us feeling betrayed and unfairly singled out. These developments, while deeply concerning, should never have resulted in unfair treatment of Canadians of Indian origin, who have no connection to the actions or decisions of a foreign government,” Bhasker wrote in the letter .

Pierre Poilievre attends a Diwali celebration with the Indo-Canadian community on Parliament Hill in October 2022. Image courtesy: @PierrePoilievre/X

“…Racism and discrimination thrive in Canada and this latest development has exposed the systematic biases that still exist. Our politicians, by recusing themselves from these cultural celebrations, have sent a message – intentionally or not – that we, as Canadians of Indian origin, are not fully part of the nation, that we are somehow less Canadian because of our ancestral ties. letter, shared by journalist Daniel Bordman on X, read.

“Discrimination” against Indo-Canadians

“By canceling their participation, our political leaders have failed to draw a necessary distinction between the Canadian Indian community and the actions of the Indian government. In doing so, they have unwittingly reinforced the racial stereotypes and biases they claim to oppose,” Bhasker said.

The OFIC president demanded an apology from Poilievre and said the decision to cancel Diwali celebrations would be recalled “at the time of exercising our franchise”.

According to Bhasker, the tradition of organizing Diwali celebrations on Parliament Hill was started by Deepak Obhrai, the former Conservative MP. “After his death (in 2019), other MPs stepped in and continued the tradition, with Todd Doherty being the most recent host. However, this year the Opposition Leader’s office called them and told them to cancel the project,” he said. Printing.

Interestingly, Poilievre attended Canada’s Dusshera celebrations at the Hindu Sabha Mandir on October 14.

Last Diwali celebrations in Canada

The Diwali tradition has continued for more than two decades on Canadian Parliament Hill. During last year’s celebrations, Polivere and the then Indian High Commissioner to Canada
Sanjay KumarVerma addressed the meeting attended by 540 guests.

The event took place in November last year, almost six weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first claimed there were “credible allegations” that Indian government officials had links to the Nijjar murder.

Terrorist Khalistani was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.

Diwali celebrations continued last year despite tensions between the two countries. However, ties between New Delhi and Ottawa have only deteriorated since then.

The deterioration of relations between India and Canada

Earlier this month, India recalled Verma along with other diplomats after Ottawa declared the high commissioner as a “person of interest” to the country.
murder of Nijjar. New Delhi too
expelled six Canadian diplomats including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hébert.

Canada also expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials “in connection with a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Indian government.”

However, New Delhi maintained that there was not a single “evidence” shared by authorities in Ottawa regarding Nijjar’s murder.

A mural outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple featuring photographs of members of Indian diplomats, including Sanjay Kumar Verma, then India’s high commissioner to Canada, is visible following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey , in British Columbia, Canada, September 18, 2023. .

On November 16, Trudeau admitted he had only intelligence and no “hard evidence” when he alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in Nijjar’s murder last year. However, he said “the Indian government made a terrible mistake in thinking it could intervene so aggressively in Canada’s security and sovereignty.”

With the contribution of agencies