At its national executive meeting held at Mahatma Gandhi Centre on 24th May 2014; New Zealand Indian Central Association elected Veer Khar (current president of Manukau Indian Association) as the Chairperson of special committee to arrange intra community dialogue and put together a wish list of issues that need attention. A freelancer’s interview with Veer Khar (VK) detailed the agenda as below:
Q: Can you please elaborate on the scope and intention of the special committee?
VK: Well Manukau Indian Association (MIA) has been spearheading the Kiwi Indian empowerment for some years now. It was the first association to raise the issue of Kiwi Indian representation in Parliament and today we have two sitting MPs. As the current president of MIA; it was entrusted upon me by the executive to arrange a conclave of Kiwi Indians. The aim is to put together and forward the wish list to various political parties and solicit their response well before the political parties finalise their manifestoes. The event gained further importance when New Zealand Indian Central Association put its weight behind and elected me to chair the arrangements for this conclave.
Q. Can you please tell us about the actual programme?
VK: Sequence of events:
1. Between now and 20th June --- We compile the feedback from various individuals and associations with regards to the issues faced by Kiwi Indians. The compiled list will be sent to the political parties on 21st June so that they get a draft list to prepare response
2. Event Day:
a. On 28th June 2014 - (11 a.m to 1 p.m.) - Community representatives meet to finalise the list of issues and sequence of questions.
b. 1 - 3. p.m. – Community leaders/ statesmen and ‘think tanks’; ask questions and one by one, various political party representatives provide their response.
c. The response will be collated and issued to Press for information to the wider community
Q: How does it benefit the wider community?
VK: Well the response from various political parties will enable each individual to make his own judgement to exercise his/her franchise in coming September.
Q Who have you invited?
VK: From Community, we have invited the representatives of various Indian associations (viz. NZICA and its branches, Hindu Council and HOTA; Bhartiya Samaj; India NZ business council, small business representatives and various individuals of calibre). To respond, we have invited the representatives of political parties’ viz. National, Labour, Greens, Maori and Internet party.
Q: Can anyone else attend?
VK: Interested Kiwi Indians are welcome to send an email to secretary@manukauindians.org.nz and a specific invite can be sent through. This is a gathering by invitation only. People are welcome to send their considerations to the same email address and the same will be included as appropriate.
Q: What in your view is important about this event?
VK: It is a conclave where all Kiwi Indian associations come on one platform to pool their ideas and at the same time retain their individual structure and specific objectives. It is the first exercise of its kind where 150,000 plus Kiwi Indians are asserting their due place in the most democratic manner.
Q: Final question, is this a political activity
VK: It is very important to understand that there is no bias towards any political party and it is purely a pro Kiwi Indian exercise to achieve goals for NZ community in general and Kiwi Indians in particular. Requests like direct flights to India; FTA; superannuation parity and curbing exploitation of international students are some of the long pending issues that this conclave intends to escalate and make progress.