Today, a small bunch of protestors demonstrated near Mahatma Gandhi Centre
which houses a temple (Radha Krisna Mandir), office of Auckland Indian Association and
office of New Zealand Indian Central Association.
NZICA being the apex body of Indians in New Zealand constitutes of a large
membership from Sikh community like other sub ethnic and diverse religious groups
of Indian origin. NZICA considers such protests highly ill-directed. NZICA is totally for
the freedom of speech, but such expressions have to be made in a civilized manner
where others do not have to face inconvenience. Today’s demonstration even if of
just a few has been a concern for many temple goers as well as for those who
volunteers their services for the wider community at the offices of AIA and NZICA.
NZICA also sees this as a clear lack of understanding of the NZ Police which allowed
this demonstration outside a private premises. A few attempts to seek audience with
the commissioner and other senior officials of NZ police in the past to raise such and
other issues have failed and NZICA sees the functioning of community boards in
Police as obsolete and non-functional.
The silver lining to the above is a timely assurance given by the Minister of Police,
Hon’ Mark Mitchell, who earlier today, after a patient hearing of the concerns raised,
has assured a suitable and prompt action.
NZICA is very hopeful of being able to overcome the above issues through a fast-
tracked dialogue like we have been doing for the last 100 years for a free, tolerant
and pluralistic New Zealand.
Veer Khar
President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZI