After participating in Vaisakhi events in Ottawa this trip without formally recognising Palm Sunday, which fell on the same day, Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing website condemnation.
Carney’s appearance at the event, which was captured in a yellow turban and serving meals at a Sikh rural, attracted praise from people of the Sikh community as well as pushback from some right-leaning and Christian critics who accused him of careful awareness. Notably, social media personality Oli London criticized Carney on X ( previously Twitter ) for participating in Sikh celebrations while disapproving of Palm Sunday, a significant Christian holiday that marks the start of Holy Week.
This is the Canadian Prime Minister celebrating Vaisakhi in a Sikh temple, but not even Palm Sunday, London wrote, erupting in a heated argument online. Carney was accused of “pandering” to minority areas while disobeying the Christian bulk, with one critic calling him” a barrel of a man.” Other people criticized his solitude on Easter as well.
But some defended the primary minister’s membership. ” Langar is inclusive—it’s for everyone, regardless of religion,” remarked a follower. That is Vaisakhi’s nature.
Sikh-Canadian Control and the Political Rivalry
The incident highlights the Sikh-Canadians ‘ growing influence on the political landscape. The largest Sikh community outside of India is in Canada, where there are over 800,000 Sikhs, or 2 % of the population. With obvious representation in Parliament, municipal legislatures, and local councils, the area has grown to be a powerful political force.
In recent years, both the Liberal and Conservative events have been active supporters of the Sikh vote. The Democrats have much benefited from their assistance in industrial Sikh strongholds, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario, but the Conservatives are making strides as tensions escalate over problems like the Khalistan activity and Indo-Canadian safety concerns.
Understanding Carney’s social sensibility from a broader perspective is essential. While the Liberal Party emphasizes multiculturalism, critics claim that the Liberal Party’s assistance for Sikh creates has alienated parts of the Hindu-Canadian and Indo-Caribbean areas, particularly in light of the aftermath of the Hardeep Singh Nijjar death and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s esoteric claim against India.
The Conservative Counter-Strategy
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been fostering ties with Hindu-Canadians and right-leaning members of the Indo-Canadian community, many of whom are now dissatisfied with Trudeau’s Liberals. In 2022, Poilievre attended a gathering that Aditya Tawatia, a former organizer of the diaspora organization Overseas Friends of BJP Canada, held. Some of its members, who are no longer active, are still active and frequently associated with Poilievre’s Conservatives.
These connections have sparked controversy, especially as some Poilievre’s audience members have expressed concerns about perceived bias toward Sikh activists and a lack of action regarding threats to Hindu places of worship. According to Shiv Bhasker, a former OFBJP official and Poilievre supporter,” Hindu-Canadians don’t feel safe” due to incidents of intimidation at rallies and temples.
Sikh organizations are also accusing the Conservatives of cozying up with Indian nationalist figures and engaging in diaspora politics to gain electoral advantage. It’s really worrying if those are the candidates who are currently supporting candidates, according to a Sikh Federation of Canada spokesman.
The discussion of community outreach took a sharper turn earlier this year when the Conservatives dropped Don Patel, their candidate in Etobicoke North, due to contentious social media activity involving Khalistan. The incident highlighted the tightrope both parties walk in managing their Indo-Canadian base, a group that is increasingly mired between diplomatic conflict and domestic political ambition, despite Patel’s supporters insisting the reaction was overblown.
A Simple Balance Act
Carney, who took over the Liberal leadership in early 2025, has a strong sense of pragmatism and centrist. His participation in the Vaisakhi event was intended to reinforce that perception. Even symbolic gestures can be politically charged in a multicultural democracy where overlapping religious calendars are commonplace.
Both parties are competing for the loyalty of Canada’s diverse ethnic communities as elections are drawing near. That means doubling down on minority representation and inclusive symbolism for liberals. It means reorienting outreach efforts to appeal to communities that are fed up with liberal identity politics and foreign policy, for Conservatives.
Carney’s turban and tray of dal may have said more than any other speech could in this setting. How Canadians interpret the balance—or imbalance—of their leaders ‘ cultural diplomacy will determine whether that symbolism resonates or backfires.
