Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared a clip of his Diwali celebrations on Sunday amid the ongoing diplomatic tension between India and the North American nation.
“Happy Diwali! Many special moments have been shared this week celebrating with the community,” Trudeau wrote in a post on Religious threads received as gifts from temples are seen being tied.
“I found these bracelets when I was in three different Hindu temples over the past few months. They are lucky,” he commented, adding that the threads would provide them with “protection.”
The Canadian Prime Minister wrote, “I will not remove them until they fall.”
He was also presented with a plate of jalebis, which he jokingly said he would “save for the team.”
happy Diwali!
Many special moments were shared celebrating with the community this week. pic.twitter.com/rCTrJx6OMc
– Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) 2 November 2024
Earlier on October 31, Trudeau had wished Canadians a happy Diwali.
“Today, we are joining millions of people in Canada and around the world to celebrate Diwali,” he said in a statement. Acknowledging the contribution of the Indo-Canadian community, he said, “Diwali in Canada would not be possible without our incredible Indo-Canadian community. Indo-Canadians represent the best of Canada – as artists and entrepreneurs, as doctors and teachers, as leaders in business, community and culture. On Diwali, we celebrate them and the light they brought to Canadian communities.” Trudeau further noted the importance of Diwali for Hindu Canadians and highlighted that it is Canada’s largest and most Is one of the diverse diaspora.
Amidst these festive sentiments, diplomatic tension between India and Canada is continuously increasing. Since September 2023, relations have deteriorated following Prime Minister Trudeau’s public allegation that India was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim India has vehemently denied. Indian officials have reiterated that there is “no evidence” linking the Indian government to the incident. In light of these ongoing tensions, India recalled six of its diplomats from Canada due to security concerns, leading Canada to respond in kind.
