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New Delhi: A Nagar Kirtan was disrupted in New Zealand's Tauranga city, around 225 kilometres away from Auckland. The annual Sikh procession was held to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. This is the second time in 3 weeks that a Sikh procession has been targeted by locals, led by a right wing group in the country, reported News18.
The protestors led by a right-wing group whose leader has been identified as Brian Tamaki tried to disrupt the Sikh procession at the Cameron Road. The procession had reportedly started from Gurdwara Sikh Sangat at around 11 am and was proceeding towards Tauranga Boys College, when it faced the protestors.
The right wing group reportedly held up banners saying, "This is New Zealand, not India". They also performed the traditional Haka dance in an attempt to stop the procession. The group also informed about the protests in a social media post.
Brian Tamaki, the right wing group's leader, posted on 'X', "“WHOSE STREETS? KIWI STREETS.” “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 True Patriots movement is not slowing down. Across NZ...more Kiwis are standing up. Louder. Stronger. Unashamed."
He also shared a video of the entire incident.
There were anticipations that the right wing group led by Tamaki and his Destiny Church would attempt to disrupt the event. Hence the police had already made strong security arrangements for the religious procession.
Working in close coordination with the local Sikh community and their volunteers, they ensured that the event was held smoothly and passed off without any major incident or disruption.
Of late, there have been multiple attacks on the Sikh community in New Zealand. The problem about their faith being attacked has also been raised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee based in Amritsar and other Sikh organisations.
A similar confrontation took place in Auckland, some 3 weeks ago. At that time a procession marking the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, was also stopped by New Zealanders belonging to the right wing groups, who performed Haka.
