National Party promises to change laws for carrying Kirpans
The National Party is promising to change laws for carrying Kirpans if elected back to power after the elections on September 23.
The announcement came from none other than Prime Minister Bill English in a party event in support of the election campaign of the Kiwi-Indian MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi from Manukau East electorate in South Auckland on Friday, August 5.
“If re-elected, a National-led Government will amend the Crimes Act to exempt Sikhs from carrying a Kirpan for religious reasons from being considered to be in possession of an offensive weapon,” Mr English said.
The proposed amendment does not change the Civil Aviation Rules governing what may be carried on board a domestic flight, and decisions around prohibited items remain questions for the Civil Aviation Authority.
This was certainly a welcome announcement for the Sikh community, which had often found itself at the centre of slightly negative attention than what community sincerely aspires for, around its articles of faith.
Kirpan – a ceremonial knife, one of the five articles of faith for baptised Sikhs, has long remained in the public discourse in New Zealand, gaining attention intermittently, often causing anxieties within the community.
“This is a welcome announcement for the Sikh community, and will ensure that the Sikh faith is protected under the New Zealand law,” Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi said welcoming the announcement.
“I have long advocated for the Sikh community, and I currently have a member’s bill in the ballot which would allow baptised Sikhs to carry Kirpans in public and work places,” Mr Bakshi added.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender Prithipal Singh Basra of Kolmar Road Gurudwara in Papatoetoe dedicated the outcome to the consistent lobbying by all Gurudwaras and the members of the Sikh community.
“This is certainly great news and result of concerted efforts of all Gurudwaras and the community.
“Our community has been longing for this for a long time and lobbying with the government,” Mr Basra said.
Sharing similar sentiments Satinder Singh Chouhan, the head of the committee managing New Lynn Gurudwara in Auckland also concurred that the community had been collectively lobbying for this demand for a long time.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender Mr Chouhan said, “I think that the government would have taken into consideration the fact that Sikhs have never used Kirpan to attack anyone.
“In Sikhism, Kirpans are only to be used in self-defence or to defend someone in need against any repression,” Mr Chouhan further added.
Mr Bakshi, the first Sikh Member of Parliament in New Zealand, has long been seeking legislation around ceremonial daggers, so it's clear they are not weapons and are safe to be worn and had placed a member’s bill – the Kirpan Authorisation Bill – which is currently on the members’ bills ballot list, waiting to be introduced.
Election promise or genuine concern?
However, this is not the first time that the National Party had made promises around the emotive issue of Sikh Kirpans.
Earlier in 2015, Stuff.co.nz reported that the then Prime Minister Sir John Key had also said publically about the loosening of the rules around Kirpans at a meeting at the Takanini Gurdwara in Auckland.
Speaking at a public event in the Takanini Gurdwara, Mr Key had then said: "There's a process they'd have to go through, and I've said to them I'm not unsympathetic, and we should look at it.
"My understanding is the Kirpan, for the most part, is a very small, blunt instrument. If you want to make the case that someone could cause harm with that – they're probably much more likely to cause harm with anything else you can get on the grounds.
“A wine bottle from Koru Club would pose just as much risk when boarding a plane as a Kirpan,” Sir John Key had then said.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Daljit Singh of Supreme Sikh Council said, “We appreciate Prime Minister Bill English taking up this issue again just before elections, however, this is not the first time that the National Party is promising a favourable intervention on the issue of Kirpans.
“The community had long been looking forward to every political party for a favourable intervention to not only allow Kirpan but also Turban and Kada, the two other articles of faith which affect Sikh community’s experience in public life in New Zealand.
“Following that statement, the Sikh community had been able to gain support from all other major political parties including Labour, Green and Act Party,” Mr Singh said.
“We have been requesting the government to choose from two options.
“Either to bring a government bill to change the law or to amend the existing legislation to exempt members of the Sikh community carrying Kirpans.
“However, Mr Bakshi had introduced a member’s bill which stopped the government somehow from bringing a government bill supported by all other parties,” Mr Singh added.
“The government could also have enunciated an amendment in existing laws to allow members of the Sikh community, which has been in the country since last hundred years, to exercise their faith.” Mr Singh said.
An amendment to the existing law for accommodating Sikh cultural practices is not completely unprecedented in New Zealand, as previously there has been a favourable amendment in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 allowing Sikhs to drive Motorcycles without requiring a helmet.
A person is not in breach of sub clause (1) if the person proves that at the time of the commission of the alleged breach he or she was an adherent of the Sikh region – reads the amended Sub clause 7.12 Safety helmets for all terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds.
It is important to note that many Commonwealth countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and some states of Australia have already legislated allowing members of the Sikh community to carry Kirpan in public spaces.
The two ministers in Canada, Harjit Singh Sajjan and Navdeep Singh Bains are both baptised Sikhs, carrying Kirpans.
The National Party is promising to change laws for carrying Kirpans if elected back to power after the elections on September 23.
The announcement came from none other than Prime Minister Bill English in a party event in support of the election campaign of the Kiwi-Indian MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi...
The National Party is promising to change laws for carrying Kirpans if elected back to power after the elections on September 23.
The announcement came from none other than Prime Minister Bill English in a party event in support of the election campaign of the Kiwi-Indian MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi from Manukau East electorate in South Auckland on Friday, August 5.
“If re-elected, a National-led Government will amend the Crimes Act to exempt Sikhs from carrying a Kirpan for religious reasons from being considered to be in possession of an offensive weapon,” Mr English said.
The proposed amendment does not change the Civil Aviation Rules governing what may be carried on board a domestic flight, and decisions around prohibited items remain questions for the Civil Aviation Authority.
This was certainly a welcome announcement for the Sikh community, which had often found itself at the centre of slightly negative attention than what community sincerely aspires for, around its articles of faith.
Kirpan – a ceremonial knife, one of the five articles of faith for baptised Sikhs, has long remained in the public discourse in New Zealand, gaining attention intermittently, often causing anxieties within the community.
“This is a welcome announcement for the Sikh community, and will ensure that the Sikh faith is protected under the New Zealand law,” Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi said welcoming the announcement.
“I have long advocated for the Sikh community, and I currently have a member’s bill in the ballot which would allow baptised Sikhs to carry Kirpans in public and work places,” Mr Bakshi added.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender Prithipal Singh Basra of Kolmar Road Gurudwara in Papatoetoe dedicated the outcome to the consistent lobbying by all Gurudwaras and the members of the Sikh community.
“This is certainly great news and result of concerted efforts of all Gurudwaras and the community.
“Our community has been longing for this for a long time and lobbying with the government,” Mr Basra said.
Sharing similar sentiments Satinder Singh Chouhan, the head of the committee managing New Lynn Gurudwara in Auckland also concurred that the community had been collectively lobbying for this demand for a long time.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender Mr Chouhan said, “I think that the government would have taken into consideration the fact that Sikhs have never used Kirpan to attack anyone.
“In Sikhism, Kirpans are only to be used in self-defence or to defend someone in need against any repression,” Mr Chouhan further added.
Mr Bakshi, the first Sikh Member of Parliament in New Zealand, has long been seeking legislation around ceremonial daggers, so it's clear they are not weapons and are safe to be worn and had placed a member’s bill – the Kirpan Authorisation Bill – which is currently on the members’ bills ballot list, waiting to be introduced.
Election promise or genuine concern?
However, this is not the first time that the National Party had made promises around the emotive issue of Sikh Kirpans.
Earlier in 2015, Stuff.co.nz reported that the then Prime Minister Sir John Key had also said publically about the loosening of the rules around Kirpans at a meeting at the Takanini Gurdwara in Auckland.
Speaking at a public event in the Takanini Gurdwara, Mr Key had then said: "There's a process they'd have to go through, and I've said to them I'm not unsympathetic, and we should look at it.
"My understanding is the Kirpan, for the most part, is a very small, blunt instrument. If you want to make the case that someone could cause harm with that – they're probably much more likely to cause harm with anything else you can get on the grounds.
“A wine bottle from Koru Club would pose just as much risk when boarding a plane as a Kirpan,” Sir John Key had then said.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Daljit Singh of Supreme Sikh Council said, “We appreciate Prime Minister Bill English taking up this issue again just before elections, however, this is not the first time that the National Party is promising a favourable intervention on the issue of Kirpans.
“The community had long been looking forward to every political party for a favourable intervention to not only allow Kirpan but also Turban and Kada, the two other articles of faith which affect Sikh community’s experience in public life in New Zealand.
“Following that statement, the Sikh community had been able to gain support from all other major political parties including Labour, Green and Act Party,” Mr Singh said.
“We have been requesting the government to choose from two options.
“Either to bring a government bill to change the law or to amend the existing legislation to exempt members of the Sikh community carrying Kirpans.
“However, Mr Bakshi had introduced a member’s bill which stopped the government somehow from bringing a government bill supported by all other parties,” Mr Singh added.
“The government could also have enunciated an amendment in existing laws to allow members of the Sikh community, which has been in the country since last hundred years, to exercise their faith.” Mr Singh said.
An amendment to the existing law for accommodating Sikh cultural practices is not completely unprecedented in New Zealand, as previously there has been a favourable amendment in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 allowing Sikhs to drive Motorcycles without requiring a helmet.
A person is not in breach of sub clause (1) if the person proves that at the time of the commission of the alleged breach he or she was an adherent of the Sikh region – reads the amended Sub clause 7.12 Safety helmets for all terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds.
It is important to note that many Commonwealth countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and some states of Australia have already legislated allowing members of the Sikh community to carry Kirpan in public spaces.
The two ministers in Canada, Harjit Singh Sajjan and Navdeep Singh Bains are both baptised Sikhs, carrying Kirpans.
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