Kiwis perform Haka dance: Nagar Kirtan disrupted by locals in New Zealand, SAD condemns second such incident
PTC News Desk: A nagar kirtan procession was disrupted by locals in New Zealand as they performed Haka dance to protest the religious procession. Members of Brian Tamaki’s group, associated with Destiny Church, came out on the streets and performed the Haka dance in protest.
They said, “Whose streets are these? These are our streets. Who allowed swords and flags to be openly carried here? We will not allow our culture to be destroyed like this. We will not let anyone use our streets and lanes to damage the culture of our country.”
Meanwhile, despite Tamaki’s Haka protest, Sikh youths carried out the Nagar Kirtan peacefully. This is second such incident that occured in New Zealand in 20 days.
The protesters raised slogans—“Whose streets? Our streets! Whose streets? Kiwi streets!” The demonstrators said they were standing up to protect New Zealand’s identity and culture. They alleged that carrying weapons during the Nagar Kirtan would not be tolerated. They claimed that swords and daggers were displayed on New Zealand’s streets and said this posed a risk to public safety, alleging that there was an agenda behind it.
Meanwhile Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has also condemned the alleged attempt to disrupt peaceful Sikh religious procession by the locals. He also urged the External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to take up the matter diplomatically with the New Zealand government to protect Sikh religious freedom abroad.
- PTC NEWS
