It is disgusting to see how the FijiFirst government ministers are using “gutter-level emotional blackmail” at religious events to lure people, says National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad.
He was responding to Minister for Agriculture Mahendra Reddy that Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was born so Fijians of Indian descent could be granted equal citizenship during the Wairuku Gangamma Temple annual firewalking prayers on Saturday night.
“Comments like Mahendra Reddy’s show how the FijiFirst party is playing racial politics to stay in power,” Prof Prasad said.
“It is disgusting how government ministers go to Indo-Fijian places of worship to tell them that only Frank Bainimarama can guarantee their status as equal citizens.
“The legal rights of every citizen in this country have been the same since independence in 1970.
“So why are people like Mahendra Reddy telling Indo-Fijians differently? Reddy’s comments are despicable and insulted the existence, social, economic and political advancement of Indo-Fijians in Fiji for the last 143 years.”
He said Mr Reddy had forgotten that it was the Bainimarama Government that banned the late Professor Brij Lal, the pre-eminent internationally recognised historian on girmit, and his wife Dr Padma Lal from entering the land of their birth. “And when Professor Lal tragically died after 12 years in exile, the cruel and heartless FijiFirst Government is not allowing Professor Lal’s family from coming home with his ashes for interment at his birthplace in Tabia.
“FijiFirst is desperately trying to capture Indo-Fijian votes using the politics of fear.
“They talk multiracialism in public but in their pocket meetings, they try to say that only FijiFirst can protect Indo-Fijians.”
