Indo-Canadian Sikh poet Rupi Kaur on Monday refused an invitation for a Diwali event from US President Joe Biden's administration over its response to the situation in Gaza. Kaur took to X and slammed the Biden administration for extending support to Israel amid the assault on Gaza and said that she is "surprised" that the US finds it acceptable to celebrate Diwali when their support of the current atrocities against Palestinians represents the exact opposite of what this holiday means to many of us.
"I'm surprised this administration finds it acceptable to celebrate Diwali, when their support of the current atrocities against Palestinians represent the exact opposite of what this holiday means to many of us," the author of "Milk and Honey" she said in the post on X. Kaur also stated, "I decline any invitation from an institution that supports the collective punishment of a trapped civilian population—50 per cent of whom are children".
On Monday, Gaza’s Ministry of Health said that the Palestinian death toll has crossed 10,000, including 4,104 children, with no signs of a ceasefire in the enclave. Sixteen of Gaza’s 35 hospitals are running low on fuel supplies and they have been forced to suspend operations.
The Indo-Canadian poet implored other South Asians in the US to do the same and hold the US government accountable in the wake of the increasing civilian death toll. "I implore my South Asian community to hold this administration accountable. As a Sikh woman, I will not allow my likeness to be used in whitewashing this administration's actions," Kaur said.
Kaur, who immigrated to Canada from Punjab, said, "We must not be tokenized by their photo-ops. When a government's actions dehumanize people anywhere in the world, it is our moral imperative to call for justice." America's Indian-origin Vice President Kamala Harris is hosting the Diwali event.
"I have always used this day to reflect on what it means to fight for freedom against oppression. Today, the American government is not only funding the bombardment of Gaza, they continue to justify this genocide against Palestinians regardless of how many refugee camps, health facilities, and places of worship are blown to bits," Kaur wrote.
Kaur also urged her followers to sign petitions, join boycotts and attend protests in support of a ceasefire. Her collections have sold over 11 million copies and have been translated into over 43 languages, with "Milk and Honey" surpassing Homer's "Odyssey" as the best-selling poetry of all time. Earlier this year, her X account (formerly Twitter) was withheld in India over the Khalistan issue. Hamas had launched a surprise attack against Israel on October 7.