Member of Parliament Ashneel Sudhakar says the alleged statements made by National Federation Party MP Parmod Chand were shocking and an insult to the institutions he represented.

Mr Sudhakar, a backbencher, said outside Parliament yesterday he heard the statements of the three witnesses that Mr Chand was allegedly in Labasa on that day of the incident and that he allegedly made some comments.

“He allegedly made comments such as FijiFirst Party is run by Muslims and South Indians and, also that if FijiFirst wins again a coup would be executed and remove the Government,’’ Mr Sudhakar.

“He is obviously denying it,” Mr Sudhakar said.

The alleged meeting was held during the canecutting season last year and not last month, it has been clarified.

Mr Sudhakar said anybody should be careful in making such alleged statements.

He said the NFP itself was divided along religious lines in 1977, where one faction was led by Muslims and one was led by Hindus.

“They themselves have seen the problems, the country has seen the problems of coups in 2000 and 1987 of racial, religious and damaging of temples,” Mr Sudhakar said.

He said any responsible politician must keep away from matters that incite antagonism.

He said the people of Labasa were one of the worst affected places in Fiji in the 2000 and 1987 coups and people should realise that all over the world there were tensions in the name of religion.

But he added: “When you go to the hospital you don’t ask about a doctor’s religion, when you go to court you don’t ask the judge about religion … as long as the job is done.’’

Edited by George Kulamaiwasa

Feedback:  losirene.lacanivalu@fijisun.com.fj