95bFM What does Indian PM Narendra Modi mean by ‘anti-India activities’ in New Zealand?
3 April, 2025
Interview by Joel Armstrong, adapted by Sara Mckoy
Sapna Samant, an activist associated with the Aotearoa Alliance of Progressive Indians, says Indian Prime Minister Nardenra Modi’s accusations of ‘anti-India activities’ in New Zealand is not actually about the Khalistan movement, but more so about anti-Hindutva activism in the country. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Earlier this month, Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, met with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to discuss relationship-building and cooperation agreement exchanges between the two nations.
Despite largely positive engagement between the two leaders, Modi alleged there has been “anti-India activities by some illegal elements” occurring in Aotearoa.
Many believe Modi’s accusations refer to the Khalistan movement.
The Khalistan movement is a separatist movement aiming to create an autonomous homeland for Sikhs in India.
In November last year, thousands attended a non-binding referendum supporting the movement. The organisation behind the referendum, the US-based Sikhs for Justice, has been labelled a terrorist organisation by the Indian government and has been banned from the country since 2019.
Activist associated with the Aotearoa Alliance of Progressive Indians or AAPI, Dr Sapna Samant, told 95bFM’s The Wire that she believes Modi’s comment alludes to more than just the Khalistan movement.
“[Modi’s accusations are] more about those who are critiquing him and Hindutva rather than just the Khalistan referendum that everybody thinks he's referring to.”
“He [did] not actually say the word Khalistan. It's just an assumption because the Khalistan referendum that happened last year was very controversial, but it was not illegal.”
Hindutva is a political ideology reflecting Hindu nationalism seeking to establish Hindu hegemony in India, which discriminates against marginalised communities in the country, such as Muslims and Sikhs.
Samant says that opponents to Hindutva have a strong presence in Aotearoa.
“We think we've gotten under [Hindu nationalist’s] skin.”
“They have been harassing us for a very, very, long time in different ways, which is not visible to the wider community.”
With Luxon’s aspirations to strengthen the country’s diplomatic relationship with India, Samant believes this will not compromise New Zealand’s democratic integrity.
“It's just two people talking empty words, I would say… because he wants to get his free trade deal by the end of this term, so I think he's just amplified and exaggerated that, ‘ha, ha, ha, we get along really well’. That doesn't necessarily mean it will translate into anything.”
For Samant, the greatest concern in Aotearoa relates to the prominence of Hindutva.
She highlights the importance of remaining vigilant against Hindutva’s influence as it is associated with a risk of violence.
“Unless and until we start talking about this in a mainstream way, where it goes into mass consciousness, nobody will be able to recognise the danger of Hindutva.”
