– the capital city’s JP Association has referred the matter to its national body, for consulting with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ)

In a first case of its kind in New Zealand, a well-known Kiwi-Indian community leader based in Wellington, Mr Kantilal Bhagabhai Patel, has lost his membership of the Wellington Justices of Peace (JP) Association, after some of his social media posts were deemed anti-Muslim in nature.

Ms Ann Clark, who is the Vice President of the Association, informed, “The Association received a complaint and it was investigated. Mr Patel is no longer a member of the Wellington JP Association.”

She further added, “Wellington Justices of the Peace Association has referred the matter to the national body representing Justices of the Peace and asked them to consult with the Ministry of Justice.”

Ms Clark was replying to a query by this newspaper on the authenticity of an email she had sent to one of the complainants against Mr Patel, which was posted on a Facebook group. To which she noted, “The email as posted is authentic.”

In that email, Ms Clark wrote to the complainant, “We were appalled at the posts.”

“We have completed our investigation and have concluded that these posts were not consistent with the standards expected of a Justice of the Peace. Mr Patel has been advised of that and the consequences for him. We are in the process of dealing with that. As you will appreciate not all the usual government systems are working at this time. Justices of the Peace are appointed through a government process and to cancel that appointment is also a government process. So in the meantime I hope you are willing to accept the apologises of the Wellington Justices of the Peace Association for the actions of this now former member of our Association,” she added.

Notably, Mr Patel, who was awarded the Queen Service Medal (QSM) in 2004 and Pride of India Award in 2005, is a former General Secretary of Auckland Indian Association and past Assistant Secretary of the Wellington Indian Association.

Meanwhile, on being approached by this newspaper for his comments on the action taken by the Wellington JP Association, Mr Patel declined to comment. This story will be updated when we receive a reply from Mr Patel.

* We have received a reply from Mr Patel dated Sunday, May 17, 2020, which has been reproduced below, along with our reply.

**As a responsible media organisation, The Indian News is choosing not to publish the social media posts in question.

– Gaurav Sharma

Our appeal: There is no place for Islamophobia in New Zealand or anywhere else

In the past few months, several reports have emerged, mainly in the Middle East but also in Canada, where Indians or people of Indian-origin have indulged in online hate-speech against Muslims, and have faced consequences.

Now this has happened here in New Zealand, which is sad, as just last year this country suffered its worst-ever terrorist attack carried out by a Islamophobic white supremacist. Hence our appeal.

The Indian News urges everyone in New Zealand, in India, and elsewhere, to spread the message of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood.”

From Mr Kantilal Patel, dated May 17, 2020:

I take exception to your article regarding the Justice of the Peace Association published on 15th May 2020 for the following reasons:

The media and the Wellington Justice of the Peace association have been reporting wrong facts, as I am still Justice of peace for NZ. My appointment has not been formally revoked and the Wellington justice of peace Association should have been aware of that and yet they proceeded to make adverse statement regarding a member who has been serving the association with sincerity and dedication since 1997.

Further did they really comprehend the Hindi Statement and did they get it interpreted before making an allegation against a Justice of the peace! As I have checked with few fellow Wellingtonian friends, they came up with different versions of what they think about the meaning of the statement. How can one generalize the meaning without even asking my personal perception about the statement I shared.

I am letting you and public in large know that I have no intentions to defame or discredit any particular religion, race or society and have never done it in the past. Although I certainly regret this unfortunate moment where I forwarded this blog randomly without reading it from my personal social media account but was completely misinterpreted by the Wellington JP Association and those who complained.

The Indian News’ reply:

Mr Patel’s assertion that we have misreported the facts is incorrect, as no where in the article it is mentioned that he is no longer a Justice of Peace. The title, sub-title, and the text, clearly state that he has lost his membership of the Wellington JP Association. In fact, the article acknowledges this by quoting Ms Clark from the Association, who clarifies that JP appointments are within the purview of the Ministry of Justice. Her quote further adds that the Association “has referred the matter to the national body representing Justices of the Peace and asked them to consult with the Ministry of Justice”.

As regards to Mr Patel’s comment on the Wellington JP Association’s action against him, this is an issue between Mr Patel and the Association. The Indian News can’t comment on that.