An annual Sikh religious procession in New Zealand was disrupted for the second time in less than three weeks on Sunday, after a local right-wing group protested during a Nagar Kirtan held to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, prompting concern from Sikh bodies including the SGPC.
An annual Nagar Kirtan organised by the Sikh community in New Zealand was disrupted on Sunday by a local right-wing religious group, raising concern among Sikh bodies, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar, Hindustan Times reported.
This was the second such incident in less than three weeks. The Nagar Kirtan was held to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.
Incident in Tauranga
The latest disruption took place in Tauranga city, about 225 kilometres from Auckland. The procession began around 11 am on January 11 from the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat temple and proceeded towards Tauranga Boys’ College via Cameron Road.
Anticipating possible trouble, New Zealand police had stepped up security arrangements along the route.
Protest by right-wing group
Despite the police presence, members of a group linked to Pentecostal leader Brian Tamaki and his Destiny Church attempted to disrupt the procession. The protesters performed a traditional Maori haka in front of the Sikh procession and displayed banners reading, “This is New Zealand not India.”
However, effective coordination between police and Sikh volunteers ensured that the event concluded without any major untoward incident.
Tamaki later shared a video of the protest on social media, with captions such as “WHOSE STREETS? KIWI STREETS” and “The True Patriots Are Not Backing Down.”
“Today in Tauranga, our True Patriots answered the Sikh Parade with a haka… not violence, not silence, but peaceful defiance,” the post read.
Second incident in three weeks
This marks the second disruption of a Sikh religious procession in recent weeks. Nearly three weeks ago, right-wing protesters had confronted a Sikh parade in Auckland that was held to mark the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, the sons of Guru Gobind Singh.
That incident had caused anxiety within the local Sikh community and drew strong reactions from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Akal Takht jathedar and the SGPC.
SGPC condemns disruption
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami strongly condemned the opposition to the Nagar Kirtan, emphasising that the procession was organised peacefully and strictly in accordance with Sikh religious traditions.
“This is the second time such an incident has occurred in New Zealand, which has deeply disappointed the Sikh community,” Dhami said.
“Viewing the religious traditions of the Sikh community — which has always made an exemplary contribution to strengthening global brotherhood — with a hateful mindset is completely unacceptable,” he added.
‘Challenge to social harmony’
Dhami described the opposition to Nagar Kirtan as an attack on religious freedom and social harmony.
“Nagar Kirtan is a sacred religious tradition of Sikhism, and opposing it is not only an attack on the humanitarian values of the Sikh faith but also a challenge to social harmony and mutual coexistence,” he said.
Emphasising the Sikh community’s history of peaceful coexistence worldwide, Dhami noted that Sikhs consistently respect the laws and culture of their host nations. “Despite this, deliberately preventing Sikhs from practising their religion is highly disappointing,” he said.
Call for action
The SGPC president urged the governments of New Zealand and India to take serious note of the incidents and called for strict action against those responsible.
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