Canada opposition leader's clarification amid outcry over Diwali event cancellation

Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre

Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has issued a clarification amid uproar from the Hindu community over the cancellation of the annual Diwali event held in Ottawa.

A statement from Poilievre office, posted on X by Indo-Canadian host Darshan Maharaja, dismissed reports of the event being cancelled this year and said that only the location and timing of the celebrations had been altered.

It further added that the event will be hosted by Conservative MP Todd Doherty, and not Poilievre.

"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.

The statement said that Poilievre looks forward to celebrating such important cultural and religious occasions with Canadians.

The clarification comes after the Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC) wrote an extensive letter to Poilievre, calling the purported move to cancel the Diwali event extremely disappointing.

OFIC chief Shiv Bhasker said that the diplomatic row between India and Canada has left the Indian community feeling "betrayed and unjustly singled out."

He added that politicians snubbing an important cultural event like this sends a clear message to Indo-Canadians that they are being viewed not as fellow Canadians, but as "outsiders".

"Racism and discrimination are thriving in Canada, and this latest development has laid bare the systemic biases that still exist. Our politicians, by recusing themselves from these cultural celebrations, have sent a message-intentionally or not-that we, as OFIC Canadians of Indian heritage are not fully part of this nation, that we are somehow less Canadian because of our ancestral ties to India," he said.

The community demanded an apology for the "insensitive and discriminatory act".

Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have plunged to an all-time low over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that New Delhi was involved in the targeting of Khalistani extremists in his country.

India has called the charges "absurd" and lashed out at Canada for giving space to separatist leaders.