Canadian Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan made a notable request for 100 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) soldiers to serve as backdrops for a concert by Indian-Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh in Vancouver. This request, which was ultimately declined, was made for Dosanjh’s sold-out performance at BC Place on April 27, 2024.
The concert was part of Diljit Dosanjh’s “Dil-Luminati” tour, which commenced with a highly successful show at BC Place, drawing an audience of 54,000 people. This event was significant as it was the largest Punjabi music concert held outside of India. Dosanjh’s tour, which started on April 28, concluded on July 13 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
On April 15, Dosanjh’s manager, Sonali Singh, sent a letter to Minister Sajjan requesting the participation of Canadian soldiers in the Vancouver concert. Sajjan, an Indo-Canadian, supported the request and forwarded it to Defense Minister Bill Blair for consideration.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) commanders ultimately rejected the request due to “tight timelines and personnel availability.” Sajjan’s press secretary, Joanna Kanga, highlighted that the minister viewed the concert as an excellent opportunity for the CAF to connect with a diverse community of young Canadians, akin to their engagement efforts at professional sporting events.
“Diljit Dosanjh is a prominent Punjabi artist who was poised to make history with his Vancouver concert. Minister Sajjan believed it would be a valuable chance for the Canadian Armed Forces to broaden their outreach and build connections with the Indo-Canadian community,” Kanga explained to The Globe and Mail.
However, the Department of National Defense stressed that participation in such events must not disrupt domestic or international operations and that operational readiness must be maintained at all times. Lieutenant-Commander Linda Coleman reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that such participation does not impact the CAF’s operational commitments.
Despite the rejection of the soldiers’ participation, Harjit Sajjan attended the Diljit Dosanjh concert with his family. According to CBC News, Sajjan purchased his own tickets and covered all associated expenses personally.
The concert was a significant cultural event, with Dosanjh being a prominent figure and critic of India’s ruling government. He had voiced his support for Punjab and Haryana farmers during the 2020 protests against agricultural reforms introduced by the Modi government.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also recognized the significance of Dosanjh’s appeal within the Indo-Canadian community. Trudeau met Dosanjh before his concert in Toronto on July 15 and publicly praised him for his achievements. However, Trudeau’s social media post referring to Dosanjh as “a guy from Punjab” sparked controversy and criticism.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Dosanjh’s concert at the Rogers Centre and his subsequent social media post have been met with mixed reactions, highlighting the complex intersection of politics and cultural events.