Thousands of members of Kiwi-Indian diaspora in New Zealand have gathered in Auckland CBD to express solidarity with the ongoing farmer’s protest in India.
A peaceful protest was organised in Auckland CBD by several diasporic organisations on Sunday, December 6, which saw an impressive turnout from the members of the community sending a clear message to Modi-government back in India to reconsider pushing through the contentious farm-legislation.
The three farm-legislation introduced in September earlier this year have created simmering resentment and anger in the farming community, particularly from the state of Punjab, which is a leading agricultural state of India.
Currently, tens of thousands of farmers are camped outside the capital, New Delhi, in protest against the laws, demanding an outright reversal of the law.
There have been few rounds of talks between the leaders of the farmer’s union and India’s Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, including one on Saturday, December 6, without any breakthrough.
The next round of talks is due on December 9.
Meanwhile, in Auckland, where the weather was also pleasant and sunny, thousands of members of Kiwi-Indian diaspora turned out dressed in traditional dresses along with their families to express solidarity with protesting farmers in India.
Manjeet Singh Aulakh, one of the protesters in Auckland CBD told the Indian Weekender, “it was a peaceful protest with thousands of people turning up on Aotea Square and several hundred still in their cars showing placards with messages demanding compassion and respect for farmers from the government of India.”
“Our farmers have always fed the people of our country and right now they are not being heard and their concerns are not being addressed by the Modi-government,” Mr Aulakh said.
Supreme Sikh Society of NZ's spokesperson Daljit Singh, who also present at the protest told the Indian Weekender that we are demanding the government of India to speak with the protesting farmers in India and immediately resolve the issue amicably so that protesting farmers can return back to their homes.
"It is a great concern to us that thousands of farmers are protesting sitting on roads in such chilling weather. We appeal to the government of India to engage in talks with them and resolve the issue immediately," Mr Singh said.
"We also reject the narrative being created purportedly on social media that the protesting farmers are only from the state of Punjab. It is not an issue that has to be divided on the basis of region or religion." Mr Singh said.
Among other prominent members of Kiwi-Sikh community were National Party's former MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Labour Party's member of campaigning team from Takanini electorate Kharag Singh, who echoed the sentiments expressed by Daljit Singh.
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