3 November 2024
Executive Committee of the New Zealand Sikh Youth

In response to Mr. Gaurav Sharma's article, New Zealand Sikh Youth clarifies that the 25 October 2024 piece mischaracterises the Khalistan referendum as a destabilising threat, unfairly framing lawful Sikh free speech as extremist and disregarding the community's pursuit of sovereignty. The referendum offers a peaceful, democratic way for Sikhs to voice this aspiration, as affirmed by the New Zealand Government and enjoys significant support, evidenced in recent Indian elections.

Firstly, it is important to highlight that former National MP Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi does not represent the views of the Sikh community. Mr. Bakshi served as a list MP and was not directly elected by the Sikh populace of New Zealand. Moreover, he has never held any key positions within Sikh representative organisations or Gurdwara committees. Therefore, his opinions on the referendum should not be misconstrued as reflective of the broader Sikh community's stance.

We also wish to underscore that the right to hold or vote in a referendum is a fundamental human right, enshrined in international law. According to Article 1 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): "All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development." The peaceful and democratic nature of the Khalistan referendum falls squarely within the scope of this right and must not be criminalised or portrayed as destabilising.

The notion that supporters of Khalistan represent a fringe minority is misleading. As evidence, we can point to the overwhelming turnout and support for Khalistan referendums held in other countries, such as Canada, the USA and Australia. Additionally, support for the Khalistan movement is evident within India, where pro-Khalistan candidates Simranjeet Singh Mann and Amritpal Singh secured landslide electoral victories in 2022 and 2024 respectively. The movement's appeal is far from marginal.

The idea of a free Sikh state is deeply embedded in the Sikh psyche. The Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh reflects a historical period of sovereignty and the pursuit of self-determination aligns with core Sikh principles of dignity, equality and justice. “Patshahi Dawa”— the Guru's promise of divine support for Sikhs in their righteous pursuits, further inspires a collective resolve to create a society where their values can thrive.

New Zealand has always prided itself on upholding human rights and freedom of expression. It is crucial for our nation to continue to support these values and ensure that peaceful, lawful initiatives like the Khalistan referendum are respected. These values should not be jeopardised for trade relations sake.

Finally, we call on Sikh Gurdwara committees across New Zealand to demand a response from Mr. Bakshi for his statements, which attempt to undermine our community's democratic rights. We also urge New Zealand to continue standing for human rights, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as fundamental principles that define our democracy.