Justin Trudeau, arguably the world’s most secular political leader who has Sikhs in his cabinet and who welcomes Syrian refugees at the airport, wished people on Diwali. He did that by tweeting a picture of himself in a black sherwani lighting a lamp.
Diwali Mubarak! We’re celebrating in Ottawa tonight. #HappyDiwali! pic.twitter.com/HBFlQUBhWX
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 17, 2017
Now, people being people on the Internet, had a problem with it because they probably have nothing better to do. Many replies flooded Trudeau’s timeline saying that ‘Mubarak’ doesn’t go with ‘Diwali’. Here are some of the banal replies –
When did Justin Trudeau converted to Islam ,
He has started appropriating Diwali as a Islamic Festival?— 🆕Mission350+ ⏩2019 (@BabrooWahen) October 17, 2017
its not mubarak its shubh
— anup penurkar (@anup_penurkar) October 17, 2017
Eid Mubarak not Diwali Mubarak, wish only Happy Diwali, stop getting coaching from Pakistani about Hindu festivals.
— anjani choubey (@anjmb) October 17, 2017
It’s not “Diwali Mubarak”, it’s “Diwali Ki Badhai” … Correct it ..
— Bhavesh K Pandey (@bhaveshkpandey) October 17, 2017
Mubarak is Arabic, not ‘hindi.’ Jussayin.
— HHaltam (@haltam_h) October 17, 2017
While some of the replies expressed their skepticism about the choice of the word ‘Mubarak’ and then went ahead to tell Trudeau that they appreciated his effort to connect with the people of different ethnicities.
Thank you, Mr.PM. Its good to hear from a global icon. But it’s either ‘subh deewali’ (Hindhi) or deepavali Vazhthukal(Tamil).
— Abinayah Raguraam (@AbinayahR) October 17, 2017
that’s arabic, justin. but we’ll let it pass because we love you
— oneli 🌺 (@OnieXOX) October 17, 2017
The Diwali celebrations were attended by India’ High Commissioner to Canada Vikas Swarup, who tweeted pictures and videos of the festivities.
And here is Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau conveying his very warm Diwali greetings to everyone pic.twitter.com/7YkD6B5Jxm
— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) October 17, 2017
Diwali puja with the Prime Minister! With members of the Liberal caucus in attendance. pic.twitter.com/wRGsgygNPh
— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) October 17, 2017
Well, it’s good to see a political leader trying to connect with his people. And it doesn’t reflect very well on the people who sit around and debate over such inconsequential things.
Happy Diwali y’all!
