The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is now studying the comments made by Laisenia Qarase at a Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) campaign meeting at Davuilevu, Nausori.

Mr Qarase reportedly said that he believed “God has given Fiji to only the iTaukei people and not any other racial group.”

He said there could be no equal citizenry.

Social Democratic Liberal Party leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa said that the party was standing by comments made by Mr Qarase about equal citizenry.

Mr Qarase also made reference to the Quran.

He told party supporters that the numbers 135 and 136 allocated for election ballot papers had been deliberately picked from the Quran and referred to ‘justice’ in the verses.

In a statement, the FijiFirst party said Mr Qarase was inciting hatred when he linked the numbering convention on the ballot paper to the Muslim’s holy book, the Quran.

The party’s general secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, had called on the Police and the Electoral Commission to investigate the matter.

The Fiji Police Force’s chief operations officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tuidravu, said they had received a report on the speech and had met with the FICAC.

“We agreed that FICAC investigate the matter as it’s an election-related issue,” ACP Tudravu said.

He said the FICAC people were verifying the two comments.

Speaking at Namaka and Narewa at an elections campaign rally, FijiFirst leader and Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, said those parties against equal citizenry focused only on equality among the races.

He said it was more than that; parties which had issues with equal citizenry were doing great injustice to all Fijians.

“We are equal in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the Lord. Political parties which are spreading misinformation about equal citizenry and common identity are insulting the intelligence of Fijians with their lies,” Mr Bainimarama said.

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