Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing online criticism after taking part in Vaisakhi celebrations in Ottawa this weekend without publicly recognising Palm Sunday , which fell on the same day.
Photographed wearing a yellow turban and serving food at a Sikh langar, Carney’s presence at the festival drew praise from members of the Sikh community—but also sparked backlash from some Christian commentators and right-leaning influencers who accused him of selective outreach. Notably, social media figure Oli London criticised Carney on X (formerly Twitter) for participating in Sikh festivities while failing to acknowledge Palm Sunday, a key Christian holiday marking the beginning of Holy Week.
“This is the Prime Minister of Canada celebrating Vaisakhi in a Sikh temple—but not even mentioning Palm Sunday,” London wrote, igniting a polarised debate online. Critics accused Carney of “pandering” to minority communities while ignoring the Christian majority, with one user calling him “a shell of a person.” Others pointed out his silence on Passover as well.
Yet many defended the prime minister’s participation. “Langar is inclusive—it’s for everyone, regardless of religion,” said one supporter. “That’s the spirit of Vaisakhi.”
Sikh-Canadian Influence and the Political Battleground
The incident shines a light on the growing influence of Sikh-Canadians in the political landscape. With over 800,000 Sikhs—roughly 2% of the population—Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora outside India. The community has become a potent political force, with visible representation in Parliament, provincial legislatures, and local councils.
Both the Liberal and Conservative parties have actively courted the Sikh vote in recent years. The Liberals have long benefited from support in urban Sikh strongholds, especially in British Columbia and Ontario, but the Conservatives are making inroads—particularly as tensions grow over issues like the Khalistan movement and Indo-Canadian security concerns.
This broader context is key to understanding the political sensitivity of Carney’s appearance. While the Liberal Party emphasises multicultural engagement, critics argue that its support for Sikh causes, particularly amid the fallout of the Hardeep Singh Nijjar assassination and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive allegation against India, has alienated sections of the Hindu-Canadian and Indo-Caribbean communities.
The Conservative Counter-Strategy
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been cultivating ties with Hindu-Canadians and right-leaning members of the Indo-Canadian community—many of whom now feel disillusioned with Trudeau’s Liberals. In 2022, Poilievre attended a gathering hosted by Aditya Tawatia, a former organiser of the Overseas Friends of BJP Canada, a diaspora group originally set up to support Narendra Modi's rise to power in India. Though no longer active, some of its members continue to engage in Canadian politics—now often aligned with Poilievre’s Conservatives.
These connections have sparked controversy, especially as some attendees of Poilievre’s events have raised concerns about perceived bias in favour of Sikh activists and a lack of action on threats to Hindu places of worship. “Hindu-Canadians don’t feel safe,” said Shiv Bhasker, a Poilievre supporter and former OFBJP official, citing incidents of intimidation at temples and rallies.
Meanwhile, Sikh groups accuse the Conservatives of cosying up to Indian nationalist figures and using diaspora politics for electoral gain. “It is really concerning if those are the individuals now promoting candidates,” said a spokesperson for the Sikh Federation of Canada .
The debate over community outreach took a sharper turn earlier this year when the Conservatives dropped their candidate in Etobicoke North, Don Patel, over controversial social media activity involving Khalistan. While Patel’s defenders insisted the reaction was overblown, the episode highlighted the tightrope both parties walk in managing their Indo-Canadian base—a group increasingly caught between diplomatic crossfire and domestic political ambition.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Carney, who took over the Liberal leadership in early 2025, has styled himself as a bridge-builder and pragmatic centrist. His appearance at the Vaisakhi event was meant to reinforce that image. But in a multicultural democracy where overlapping religious calendars are the norm, even symbolic gestures can be politically loaded.
With elections looming, both parties are jostling for the loyalty of Canada’s diverse ethnic communities. For Liberals, that means doubling down on inclusive symbolism and minority representation. For Conservatives, it means reorienting outreach efforts to tap into communities frustrated with Liberal identity politics and foreign policy.
In this atmosphere, Carney’s turban and tray of dal may have said more than any speech could. Whether that symbolism resonates or backfires will depend on how Canadians interpret the balance—or imbalance—of their leaders’ cultural diplomacy .
Photographed wearing a yellow turban and serving food at a Sikh langar, Carney’s presence at the festival drew praise from members of the Sikh community—but also sparked backlash from some Christian commentators and right-leaning influencers who accused him of selective outreach. Notably, social media figure Oli London criticised Carney on X (formerly Twitter) for participating in Sikh festivities while failing to acknowledge Palm Sunday, a key Christian holiday marking the beginning of Holy Week.
“This is the Prime Minister of Canada celebrating Vaisakhi in a Sikh temple—but not even mentioning Palm Sunday,” London wrote, igniting a polarised debate online. Critics accused Carney of “pandering” to minority communities while ignoring the Christian majority, with one user calling him “a shell of a person.” Others pointed out his silence on Passover as well.
Yet many defended the prime minister’s participation. “Langar is inclusive—it’s for everyone, regardless of religion,” said one supporter. “That’s the spirit of Vaisakhi.”
Canadian PM Mark Carney dresses up in Sikh clothing to celebrate the Sikh holiday of Vaisakhi.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 14, 2025
Carney served food to Ottawa’s Sikh community while Christian’s accross Canada took part in Palm Sunday celebrations.
He made no mention of Palm Sunday.
pic.twitter.com/0tYA49UePm
Sikh-Canadian Influence and the Political Battleground
The incident shines a light on the growing influence of Sikh-Canadians in the political landscape. With over 800,000 Sikhs—roughly 2% of the population—Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora outside India. The community has become a potent political force, with visible representation in Parliament, provincial legislatures, and local councils.
Both the Liberal and Conservative parties have actively courted the Sikh vote in recent years. The Liberals have long benefited from support in urban Sikh strongholds, especially in British Columbia and Ontario, but the Conservatives are making inroads—particularly as tensions grow over issues like the Khalistan movement and Indo-Canadian security concerns.
This broader context is key to understanding the political sensitivity of Carney’s appearance. While the Liberal Party emphasises multicultural engagement, critics argue that its support for Sikh causes, particularly amid the fallout of the Hardeep Singh Nijjar assassination and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive allegation against India, has alienated sections of the Hindu-Canadian and Indo-Caribbean communities.
The Conservative Counter-Strategy
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been cultivating ties with Hindu-Canadians and right-leaning members of the Indo-Canadian community—many of whom now feel disillusioned with Trudeau’s Liberals. In 2022, Poilievre attended a gathering hosted by Aditya Tawatia, a former organiser of the Overseas Friends of BJP Canada, a diaspora group originally set up to support Narendra Modi's rise to power in India. Though no longer active, some of its members continue to engage in Canadian politics—now often aligned with Poilievre’s Conservatives.
These connections have sparked controversy, especially as some attendees of Poilievre’s events have raised concerns about perceived bias in favour of Sikh activists and a lack of action on threats to Hindu places of worship. “Hindu-Canadians don’t feel safe,” said Shiv Bhasker, a Poilievre supporter and former OFBJP official, citing incidents of intimidation at temples and rallies.
Meanwhile, Sikh groups accuse the Conservatives of cosying up to Indian nationalist figures and using diaspora politics for electoral gain. “It is really concerning if those are the individuals now promoting candidates,” said a spokesperson for the Sikh Federation of Canada .
The debate over community outreach took a sharper turn earlier this year when the Conservatives dropped their candidate in Etobicoke North, Don Patel, over controversial social media activity involving Khalistan. While Patel’s defenders insisted the reaction was overblown, the episode highlighted the tightrope both parties walk in managing their Indo-Canadian base—a group increasingly caught between diplomatic crossfire and domestic political ambition.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Carney, who took over the Liberal leadership in early 2025, has styled himself as a bridge-builder and pragmatic centrist. His appearance at the Vaisakhi event was meant to reinforce that image. But in a multicultural democracy where overlapping religious calendars are the norm, even symbolic gestures can be politically loaded.
With elections looming, both parties are jostling for the loyalty of Canada’s diverse ethnic communities. For Liberals, that means doubling down on inclusive symbolism and minority representation. For Conservatives, it means reorienting outreach efforts to tap into communities frustrated with Liberal identity politics and foreign policy.
In this atmosphere, Carney’s turban and tray of dal may have said more than any speech could. Whether that symbolism resonates or backfires will depend on how Canadians interpret the balance—or imbalance—of their leaders’ cultural diplomacy .
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