PARLIAMENTARY Privileges Committee chairwoman Veena Bhatnagar questioned the credibility of two National Federation Party officials proposed by the Opposition to be summoned to be witnesses before the committee.
Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu had proposed that the committee call the two NFP officials because they were seen in the CCTV footage of the events that transpired between Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Opposition MP Pio Tikoduadua on August 9.
The committee had found it hard to make out the words uttered by the PM during the incident which was why Mr Bulitavu came up with the proposal.
Agriculture Minister and committee member Dr Mahendra Reddy then questioned Mr Bulitavu why he was relying on the evidence of the NFP workers when he was a lawyer.
“What would NFP workers come and say?” Dr Reddy asked.
Mr Bulitavu said because they were seen in the CCTV footage.
Dr Reddy then again said he could not rely on the two NFP officials.
“I am saying I need an unbiased person, independent person.
“I am not going to go by what honourable Lenora Qereqeretabua or honourable Professor Biman Prasad said or what the two NFP workers would say.”
Speaking in response to Dr Reddy, Mrs Bhatnagar said because the two officials were closely related to NFP, their credibility was in question.
“The credibility, but honourable Reddy is right, if they can get someone independent because we can always call the Prime Minister’s bodyguards who were standing with him too,” she said.
