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New Zealand's first potential Sikh
MP in immigration row
WSN Network]
NEW ZEALAND:
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, a Sikh candidate fielded by the National
Party and currently being sought to be embroiled in an immigration
row has admitted having offered a second job to another Indian
national seeking residence in New Zealand but denies having done
anything wrong.
He is standing
for Manukau East. He said he made the job offer "at about the same
time" as the first, to bring an Indian to
New Zealand to
work as a manager for his vending machine business.
A complaint
accusing Mr Bakshi of making another questionable job offer to an
Indian woman trying to obtain
New Zealand
residency in 2003 has already been filed with Immigration New
Zealand by a member of the local Sikh community .
The Department
of Labour, which oversees immigration, says the complaint has not
yet been assessed.
A National Party
spokesperson said leader John Key was backing his potential MP over
the allegations.
Sources say the
source of complaints was also from within the Sikh community.
Mrs Kuldeep
Singh, said she paid $25,000 to her immigration consultant for her
application and the job offer - but Mr Bakshi says he never received
any money.
At current
polling and number 38 on National's list, Mr Bakshi will be in the
next parliament as an MP.
Mr Bakshi said
the second job offer was also made in good faith because he needed
to replace an employee.
Born in
Delhi
, Mr Bakshi moved to New Zealand with his family in 2001, where he
has been running businesses in property, wholesaling and fashion.
A prominent Sikh
said the immigration row had dampened the community's excitement
about having the country's first Sikh MP.
5 November
2008
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