The Office of the Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre denounced accusations raised by an Indo-Canadian group that the Conservative Party leader cancelled the 24th edition of the Diwali celebrations at Parliament Hill.

Members of the Overseas Friends of India Canada group say they were taken aback on learning that Opposition and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre allegedly cancelled the annual event and accused politicians of “racism” and “systemic biases” against Canadians of Indian heritage in their grievance letter to the opposition leader.

“This is not just about a cancelled Diwali event or an event where the politicians decide to re-engage on their commitment to attend; it is about a much deeper, more insidious problem. Racism and discrimination are thriving in Canada, and this latest development has laid bare the systemic biases that still exist,” event organizers Overseas Friends of India Canada shared in a statement.

“Our politicians, by recusing themselves from these cultural celebrations, have sent a message—intentionally or not—that we, as Canadians of Indian heritage are not fully part of this nation, that we are somehow less Canadian because of our ancestral ties to India,” they added.

However, Pierre Poilievre’s team confirmed that the event was never cancelled by the Opposition leader.

“To be clear, any suggestion that Mr. Poilievre has cancelled this event is patently false,” Opposition Leader’s Office Director of Media Relations Sebastian Skamski told Yahoo News Canada in an email response.

“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 Chor Divas in Ottawa with members of the South Asian community and Conservative Caucus.”

“Mr. Poilievre looks forward to celebrating these important cultural and religious occasions with Canadians in the coming days,” Poilievre’s spokesperson added.

Yahoo News Canada asked OFIC President Shiv Bhasker if the Conservative Caucus provided an explanation for pulling out of the event, to which he responded saying his organization received an abrupt email that caught them off-guard.

“I got a one line email that says, look, the event is cancelled and Happy Diwali. No explanations given. So I sent an email saying we need an explanation. So we waited for a few days and then the idea was that we should write a letter expressing our sadness and disappointment and the letter went viral!” he said during a telephone interview.

For years the event was hosted by Canadian Conservative Party MP Deepak Obhrai, who was replaced by another Conservative MP, Todd Doherty, after his death. It’s a non-partisan event that is attended by a number of MPs of various Canadian parties. Last year, it included Mr. Poilievre and Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, who has now returned to India after Canada named him along with other Indian diplomats as a “person of interest” in the Nijjar killing case.

Gauging from the response shared by the Opposition leader’s office with Yahoo News Canada, Poilievre does aim to be a part of celebrations in the “coming days,” however the specifics remain unknown as they were not shared in the email.

‘I can only speculate’: Parliament Hill Diwali event organizers remain unsure of why was the event cancelled

Before Pierre Poilievre’s office responded to Yahoo News Canada’s request for a reply, Bhasker told Yahoo News Canada that OFIC and the larger Indian diaspora in Canada were left feeling “betrayed” and “unjustly singled out” by the Conservative Party’s decision to cancel the event at Parliament Hill. In their letter, OFIC criticized the decision as an outcome of strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India.

Bhasker said his team never received any explanation behind the decision taken by the Conservatives, however, the group believes the recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada might have played a role.

“If I knew, I would tell you. I can only speculate. I have received no explanation. Basically, if I put two and two together it’s because of the tensions between India and Canada. That’s the only thing we can think of. But I cannot say that for certain, that’s just speculation on my part,” Bhasker told Yahoo News Canada.

The letter concludes with a reminder that the Indo-Canadian community, estimated to be around 850,000 strong, will remember these actions “at the time of exercising our franchise,” hinting at potential political consequences in upcoming elections.

The OFIC has demanded an apology and clear actions to address what they view as discrimination, calling for a commitment to prevent similar incidents in the future. They also urge the Opposition to reconsider how multicultural celebrations are handled, highlighting that these events symbolize unity across communities.

Diwali Celebrations at Parliament Hill are a long-standing tradition that have been in practice for the last 23 years and previously witnessed MPs and politicians of various statuses, including Stephen Harper during his term as PM and Pierre Poilievre last year, as honorary guests.

Recently, Canada and India have been embroiled in political tensions, including the high-profile withdrawal of Indian diplomats from Canada. These tensions appear to have inadvertently affected Indo-Canadians, who now feel marginalized, as the OFIC contends that political leaders failed to distinguish between Canada’s Indian diaspora and actions of the Indian government.

Rising tensions between India and Canada

The diplomatic rift between Canada and India has deepened significantly since the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim that Indian government agents may have been involved in the killing led to a severe backlash from India, which denied any involvement. The strained relations have impacted trade talks, visa processing, and overall diplomatic ties, with both countries expelling diplomats in retaliation.

The controversy has brought to light underlying tensions over India’s concern about Sikh separatist movements abroad. India has expressed frustration over perceived Canadian leniency toward Sikh groups advocating for Khalistan, a separatist movement for an independent Sikh homeland. This sentiment is compounded by the criminal networks and individuals reportedly tied to pro-Khalistan activists, including individuals like Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious Indian gangster, who has been linked to violence and threats against high-profile figures within India.

Canada’s Indo-Canadian community has been particularly impacted by the strained relationship, with community leaders calling for peaceful and lawful advocacy, while urging both governments to avoid further escalation. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s stance has received both support and criticism domestically, as the controversy poses risks to his government’s relations with key international partners.

These tensions reveal larger geopolitical shifts, as India seeks closer ties with Western allies, including the U.S., while navigating its complex domestic issues and concerns over foreign advocacy for separatist causes. Observers worry that unless both nations find diplomatic solutions, the prolonged conflict may harm economic ties and regional stability.