Astounding contradictions

Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori

The contradiction coming from the two main opposition parties in the lead up to the coming election is astounding.

For example;

1. Rabuka claims that he will protect iTaukei interests if elected to power. But he is still dodging questions on his Land Plan of September of 2006 where he proposed to convert all iTaukei land to crown leaving us iTaukei with no land. That is more a di­rect threat than the “Sunset Clause” Niko Nawaikula has been preaching about.
2. Today they both claim that iTaukei land is under threat. But the only time after in­dependence when iTaukei land was con­verted into freehold and loss forever was when their party president was Minister for Lands. When Bainimarama took over in 2006, we iTaukei own 87.3 per cent of our land mass. Today we own more than 91 per cent.
3. Rabuka claims that he will bring eco­nomic progress. But this is the same Rabuka under whose government our only National Bank went bankrupt and our Receiver’s Of­fice received the highest number of bank­ruptcies ever.
4. Rabuka states that he wants Christian principles to be enshrined in our reviewed constitution. But when he won his case in the Suva Magistrates Court two weeks ago, an Israeli Jewish flag was waved before him.

More than 90 per cent of Jews in the world do not believe that Jesus is the son of God nor is He the Messiah.

They do not even believe that he qualifies to be a prophet. In simple terms, Jews be­lieve that Jesus is a fake. Do Rabuka and his supporters also believe this?

5. Rabuka stated that he will bring back the Great Council of Chiefs pretending to have respect for this once noble institution. But when he was its chairman, he locked out some chiefs who disagreed with his political ideology from the GCC meetings. He once went out and played golf while the GCC waited for their meeting.
6. Rabuka states that SODELPA represents the interest of “all ethnic groups” in Fiji. But of their 51 candidates, only three are Indo-Fijians and they made two of them to appear on their campaign billboard to mis­lead people to think that their candidates are evenly distributed on ethnic lines.
7. Biman criticises Bainimarama’s takeo­ver of 2006. Yet he made one of Bainimara­ma’s right-hand men in that takeover to be his party president and election candidate this year.
8. Biman strongly claims that his party will not go into coalition with any party. But in Rabuka’s interview he stated, “As far as post-election is concerned, we don’t want to talk about that and jeopardise NFP’s rela­tionship with their supporters”.

This can only suggest that both parties are lying to their supporters.

9. Biman boasted NFP will fight for the rights of all citizens. But when Indo-Fijians were called “kaisi” (low-grade people) in Parliament, he remained silent. When Mus­lims were abused, he remained silent.

The Irish philosopher Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.

NFP candidates

Simon Hazelman, Savusavu

How many more National Federation Par­ty (NFP) candidates are going to get inves­tigated and charged with unethical behav­iour?

It’s becoming a regular thing. It simply confirms the character of the party!

Statue of unity

Dewan Chand, Namadi Heights, Suva

I write this open letter of warmest congrat­ulations to Narendra Modi, the Prime Min­ister of India, and his government for con­structing the world’s tallest statue (183m) on the bank of river Narmada, in memory of Vallabhbhai Patel, the freedom fighter.

The official opening and dedication were performed by Prime Minister Modi on Octo­ber 31, 2018, in the presence of a huge crowd.

This was a historical moment for the world’s largest democracy and India cel­ebrated in style!

Vallabhbhai Patel was born in a humble family of a small village in Gujrat.

After completing primary and secondary education in his rural set-up he went to Lon­don to study for his law degree.

Upon completion of his studies he re­turned to India and set up a successful law practice in Ahmadabad.

However, his life changed for ever when he met Mahatma Gandhi (a freedom fighter and British educated lawyer) who had just returned from championing the cause of In­dian indentured labourers in South Africa.

Patel joined the freedom struggle along with Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and many other stalwarts. Patel was totally committed to the cause of India’s freedom fight.

He was known for his intelligence and stra­tegic thinking, administrative skills and the capacity to polarise people.

So, when in 1947 independence came he was given the responsibility of the Home Ministry to bring all the warring states un­der Indian control. He did this very success­fully.

The Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Junagadh wanted to join Pakistan, but Sardar Patel was able to subdue them and finally they came under Indian control.

This was a huge achievement for Inde­pendent India and Vallabhbhai Patel was responsible for this. It is, perhaps, Patel’s singular most great achievement, hence the statue in his memory.

This statue is bound to inspire millions of Indian youths, be a great tourist attrac­tion and, eventually, a smart city will grow around it providing employment opportu­nity for millions of Indians in Narmada val­ley. Modern infrastructure such as roads, railways and airports have made connectiv­ity to this area very easy.

I wish Narendra Modi and his government every success in their effort to make India the most modern industrial giant.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj