Faced racism during 2017's campaign, possibly will face it again: Labour's Hamilton West candidate
Labour's rising star, sat with his namesake Gaurav Sharma, Associate Editor of The Indian News, on Thursday, for a straight talk on a range of issues concerning racism, migrant exploitation, his drive in politics, his election campaign for 2020, his priorities for Hamilton West, and Labour's plan for economic revival in a post-covid New Zealand.
Somebody told my campaign team then, "Couldn't you find somebody who looked like us." So I have faced racism while campaigning in 2017, and possibly will face the same this election too: Dr Gaurav Sharma, Labour Party candidate for Hamilton West.
Watch the full interview for his replies to the following:
1) Is New Zealand a racist country?
2) What has been your experience of growing up in New Zealand as a Kiwi-Indian, while dealing with racism, and in general?
3) Is it true that a top surgeon threatened to “slit your throat” when you complained of bullying in hospitals?
4) Having faced it yourself, how do you propose New Zealand tackles issues of racism? Especially in our schools.
5) How has been your experience in the Labour Party ever since you volunteered with the present Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, when he was running from the Mount Roskill electorate seat in 2014?
6) The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in 2017 that she is impressed by your passion for social justice. Is that what drives you? Why are you in politics?
7) Why hasn’t the Labour Government done enough for eliminating the exploitation of migrant workers in New Zealand? Even though the entire Labour movement is based upon fighting for the welfare of workers.
8) What makes you believe that this time you will win against National Party’s MP Tim Macindoe who has represented Hamilton West since 2008?
9) How will be your election campaign different this time? What will be the main issues you will raise?
10) You are a doctor and the Government’s own report his week said that the health infrastructure across New Zealand is “poor or very poor”. How do you plan to change it in your constituency, or at least in the Waikato Hospital?
11) National says it is the party for economic revival of New Zealand. When a voter comes to you and says the same thing during the election campaign, what will be your reply?