Sikh religious leaders have strongly criticized a group of local residents in Manurewa, South Auckland (New Zealand) who opposed a Sikh Nagar Kirtan procession, calling the disruption a threat to peace and harmony. The Tribune Acting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj and SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami urged both the New Zealand and Indian governments to ensure the Sikh community can observe religious traditions safely. They said Nagar Kirtans are officially permitted events, and authorities must protect them from interference. The Tribune Gargaj described the incident as undermining social unity and criticized those behind the opposition. He also encouraged Sikh leaders in New Zealand to engage in dialogue with local officials and Māori community representatives to explain Sikh values and traditions. Furthermore, he called on New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Foreign Minister Winston Peters, and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to act so such disruptions do not harm harmony between communities. The Tribune SGPC President Dhami expressed concern that despite Sikhs’ contributions to peace and tolerance globally, viewing Sikh traditions with hostility is “highly condemnable.”
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