Despite being a working Monday (Nov 28) for everyone, hundreds of people came together to show their support at the nationwide protest against the slaying of Janak Patel. The protest outside Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's electorate office in Mount Albert was part of simultaneous nationwide protests demanding justice for Janak Patel, who was tragically stabbed to death outside the Rose Cottage Dairy in Sandringham on Wednesday (November 23).
People started gathering there from 12:00 pm onwards. Passing traffic tooted in support, and even the people in public transport showed their support.
It may be noted that despite public knowledge that a protest was being planned, the electoral office was closed with no staff to answer the door. Community leaders had planned to hand over a memorandum to Prime Minister through her office.
Despite people knocking on the door, there was no one in the office to receive the memorandum, which disappointed the community leaders and those at the protest. especially since the murder took place in the Prime Minister's electorate.
The community leaders said they had now decided to e-mail the memorandum to the Prime Minister's office.
As for support from the political parties, the ACT Party was represented by its leader David Seymour and deputy leader, Brooke van Velden. Interestingly, not even a single sitting MP from the National Party was present at the protest. However, former National Party MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi was present. There was also former NZ First MP Mahesh Bindra lending his support.
Media were also present in full force at the event, including the ethnic media. The presence of Chinese media members in numbers reflected the high interest in the protest, as the increasing crime continues to adversely affect the entire business and migrant community of New Zealand.
In the next hour, protestors spilled on to New North Road, giving a hard time for police to control traffic.
With the protestors locked out of the office, one attendee said, "I guess the only way into the PM's electoral office is to ram-raid it!"
At the end of the designated time of the protest, 2:30 pm, the protestors plastered the doors of the Prime Minister's electoral office with the 'Enough is Enough' posters.
Indian Weekender spoke to people at the protest, including prominent community leaders, to know their thoughts on the increasing crime and ways to tackle the situation:
Jeet Suchdev: The current situation is alarming. People are feeling so unsafe. Unless there is a change in law, nothing will happen. We need to have stricter laws. Someone who has committed a crime should be treated as a criminal despite their age. The faith in government needs to be restored.
Ghouse Majeed: If the offenders do not fear severe punishments, they will not stop committing these crimes. We had a clean record, and the global image of NZ is getting tarnished each day. There is a need to seriously look into loopholes in the law, so the offenders do not dare to do them again.
Narinder Singla: People are not safe, and there is much frustration. People are demanding stricter laws. Change of the law is the need of the hour. More brutal punishment is needed despite the age.
Anjali: The law should change as we are scared, which is not good. Everyone is concerned about safety in NZ, which is not good. Stricter laws are the need of the hour. Enough is enough Good to see the support.
Chandrakant Bhai: What has happened is terrible. People need to be punished, and they need to be scared of reoffending. The problem is that these offenders know they can get away even after committing significant crimes. They need to change.
Chandra Prakash Satija: I have been staying here for 26 years. This is the worst situation. The criminals have no fear, and what is scary as the laws are too soft. And it seems all human rights are for offenders. This Labour government needs to go.
Jay: If the law and order situation doesn't improve, we will ensure Labour doesn't come to power in subsequent elections. She needs to understand the gravity of the problem.
ISSUE
