Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khai­yum and National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad yesterday en­gaged in one of their fiercest exchanges so far outside of Parliament.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, upset by NFP’s provi­sional candidate Feroz Mohammed’s con­tinuing comments online on religion and against him, sent an email to Mr Prasad.

He said: “What are you going to do about his bigotry, which I brought to your atten­tion previously, as a matter courtesy, after one of our Parliamentary sittings?

“It is apparent you didn’t do anything the first time and your provisional candidate has continued down this bigoted path with impunity. Obviously because of the lack of principled leadership and guardianship.”

Mr Prasad said he would reply through the media because the A-G had copied his mail to them. He could not be reached to com­ment.

Meanwhile, it is understood that Mr Mo­hammed has been disqualified on the same grounds as the disqualification of FijiFirst provisional candidate Naziah Ali. Ms Ali was disqualified because she was out of the country for six months in two years. Mr Mo­hammed’s fate could not be confirmed last night.

His continuing derogatory remarks on so­cial media prompted Mr Sayed-Khaiyum to write to Mr Prasad.

HERE’S HOW THE EXCHANGES WENT:

A-G’s email to Biman Prasad and copied to the media:

Fwd: RE_ LEST WE FORGET MARHOOM S. M. KOYA

Biman,

This is the AG. I write to you in your capacity as leader of NFP.

Please see below an email sent by your provisional candidate, Feroz Mohammed.

What are you going to do about his bigotry, which I brought to your attention previously, as a matter courtesy, after one of our Parliamentary sittings?

It is apparent you didn’t do anything the first time and your provisional candidate has continued down this bigoted path with impunity. Obviously because of the lack of principled leadership and guardianship.

This is the type of environment you and your candidates are seeking to create in Fiji by actively being involved or accepting it.

The unabated continuation of such behaviour demonstrates your complicity in trying to create a bigoted and divided Fiji. The perpetuation of such bigotry can also create an unstable electoral environment.

Your double standards and hypocrisy on such issues have become very apparent.

For the sake of our country, I implore you to stop being a political opportunist and to direct all NFP candidates, NFP officials and NFP supporters to immediately stop such divisive and unpatriotic behaviour.

AG

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Biman Prasad responds, copied to the media

AG,

Thanks for your email. I would have responded to you if this was intended to alert me on the allegation against the provisional candidate.

However, I am surprised to note that you have copied your email to the media.

I will, therefore, respond to you through the media.

Biman

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A-G to Biman, copied to the media

Biman

I copied the media because I have alerted you about such bigotry on numerous occasions but you obviously failed to take any appropriate action.

I have now involved the media in the hope that it will prompt you to expeditiously take some much needed and appropriate action.

Please note I will also copy this correspondence to the Chair of the Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Elections.

AG

—————-

From Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem to A-G, copied to Biman and media:

Hon. AG

Acknowledging receipt of the email.

Vinaka

Saneem

SoE

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Feroz Mohammed’s email

And they both are claiming to be hindu now as both have been actively involved in sanatan pooja

Kaiyum has laid the foundation of a mandir

Just for votes they both sold their iman

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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