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A controversial Auckland radio host is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed multiple times in the driveway in an attack that his friends claim was religiously motivated.
Harnek Singh, 53, remains in critical condition at Middlemore Hospital after being attacked in the driveway of his home on Glenross Drive, Wattle Downs around 10:20 p.m. on December 23.
It is the second public attack Singh has suffered this year after he was assaulted at the Love Punjab restaurant on his birthday in July.
Singh’s colleagues at Radio Virsa, where he is a talkback host for the Sikh community, say he was returning home this week after that day’s broadcast when he was attacked, possibly by a group of attackers.
Balwinder Singh, 42, says Harnek Singh is “like a brother” to him and is part of the Radio Virsa team, which looks at religious and cultural issues in the Auckland Sikh community.
“From the injuries he had, you could tell he was attacked with sharp weapons,” Balwinder said.
“Okay, his condition is stable and he’s at Middlemore. We think he is. [he was stabbed]. The motivation behind the attack obviously has to do with what he says on the radio, what opinion on different topics and issues that have been discussed on the radio.
“Mainly on this radio show a lot of religious issues have been discussed. So let’s say a lot of traditional myths that people believe in, and we on the radio try to explain to people who see it in a different practical way to the point of mythical view that most people have.
“Obviously, that would annoy someone who is a religious fanatic, and someone who looks at religion from a mythical point of view as many religions do.”
Balwinder said they “definitely” had concerns for Singh’s safety in the future.
“After what happened on the 23rd it is difficult to understand in a country like New Zealand, someone can approach the matter that way. That is very difficult to understand,” said Balwinder.
Singh’s wife, Parbhjeet, told the Herald that the family was fighting.
“He’s fine now. He’s still in the hospital,” he said.
Middlemore Hospital confirmed this afternoon that Singh was still in critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery.
Police said “investigations to establish the circumstances [of the attack] are in progress. “
The Virsa Radio station has generated controversy in the past, and in June 2020 the Broadcasting Standards Authority confirmed a complaint about Singh’s comments.
The Authority heard eight complaints against Singh’s comments in the Punjabi language to a caller about the Damdami Taksaal Sikh sect in response to recent violent incidents in India.
In 2017, the Authority also confirmed a complaint against Radio Virsa regarding “offensive comments about named persons” and “comments about women [which] they were unacceptable in New Zealand society. “
Another Radio Virsa colleague, Sukhminder Singh, 37, said that station workers had been bombarded by threats since the Singh attack on December 23.
“There have been hundreds of threats on the phone and on social media for all of us after this incident,” Sukhminder said.
“We are all a team, he is our captain.
“I want to make it clear that the problems we have are not just us here, it is around the world – an intolerance of having a different opinion to tradition.
“When Harnek speaks on the radio it is not just a religious purpose, he always talks about the social values that we have in our country and how our community can be left behind at times and the change he wants to bring to the youth. We are all respectful of the citizens law.
“We know that we have strong cultural values, but we have to mix here, it is a new culture and changes must [happen]and some people don’t like change, no matter what community you’re talking about. It is the threat of a change, they do not want to accept.
“They still want to live 100 years ago and they don’t want to accept.”
The Papatoetoe station describes itself as “a project by a group of New Zealand-based Sikhs” who believe that “creations of mediocre or even dubious artistic merit are being imposed on Sikhs around the world.”
There have also been reports in the Punjab media outlet Sikh24 that in October 2019, Harnek Singh was forced to pay more than $ 100,000 in unpaid wages to former employees.
