The Isha Foundation has said that an event to felicitate spiritual leader Sadhguru in Canada has been indefinitely postponed.
The development comes amid a downturn in India-Canada ties over the probe into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which led to the tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats.
Isha Foundation, founded by Sadhguru, said it was jointly decided with Canada India Foundation (CIF) to postpone the event, which was supposed to be held on November 7 in Toronto.
The event was set to confer Sadhguru with the CIF Indian of the Year 2024 award for his lifelong groundbreaking work in creating a “conscious planet” and his global leadership in addressing environmental challenges and elevating human consciousness. The event’s core mission is to strengthen mutual understanding and collaboration between India and Canada.
“We are deeply honoured to recognise Sadhguru’s immense contributions and the global impact of his work. However, under the current circumstances, we agree that postponing the event is the most responsible course of action. This will allow us to celebrate this partnership in an atmosphere of goodwill and harmony at a future date,” said Ritesh Malik, chairperson of the Canada India Foundation.
Isha Foundation echoed this sentiment, stating, “The message of creating a conscious planet transcends borders and politics. It is our hope that when the gala takes place, it will do so in a time marked by strengthened collaboration between Canada and India.”
Besides this, the CIF also confirmed that Ontario Trade Minister Vic Fedeli’s planned trip had also been postponed due to the crisis, leading to lost opportunities for business and community engagement between both nations.