The National Federation Party will be holding its Annual General Meeting in Ba today.
It is also going to celebrate 55 years since the initial Federation Party was formed.
But, when members meet today, there will be questions about their leader Biman Prasad’s nonchalant attitude towards allegations of racial and religious vilification that is dogging at least three of their provisional candidates.
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This includes one sitting Member of Parliament.
There will also be questions about their candidates.
Vocal MP Parmod Chand has been accused by three people in Labasa of inciting religious vilification against the Muslim community.
Another provisional candidate – Pradeep Chandra has been accused by four people in Ba of saying similar things.
He too is accused of making remarks that Fiji will be taken over by Muslims.
Their provisional candidate, Feroz Ghulam Mohammed, who is very active on social networking sites alleged that his account was cloned and it was not him, but someone else who posted some rather disturbing comments.
We now of course have had reports from different parts of Fiji where individuals and groups have formally and informally stated that NFP candidates were campaigning on religious basis in particular targeting Muslims. (Conversely, we have had its provisional candidate Feroz Ghulam Muhammed on social media telling Muslims that the A-G has become a Hindu because he has attended Hindu religious festivals and sites and therefore they should not vote for him.)
Despite a growing avalanche of complaints and stories, the leader of NFP who did not speak out against such bigotry in Parliament, continues to ignore or deny these complaints and stories.
This chorus of complaints surely cannot and should not be ignored.
The reluctance of the NFP leadership to tackle this matter head on could mean that there is support for the bigoted position of its provisional candidates and members who are saying these things.
Or that they have adopted such bigotry purely as a political strategy to mislead Fijian voters so they can win more seats in Parliament.
Or the NFP leadership believes that it can treat these ordinary yet brave Fijian citizens who have spoken out, with contempt.
There is also a growing concern about the calibre of NFP candidates. One of their provisional candidates - Romanu Tikotikoca withdrew his candidacy after his maid from Papua New Guinea alleged that he had raped her.
Another one of their provisional candidates sent in his resignation from inside a Police station where he was being questioned for another rape allegation. He has since been charged.
As they meet today, there is little hope that these issues will be dealt with head on.
NFP can accuse the media of bias, but will that attitude also extend to other Fijians who have voiced their concerns about campaigning tactics of NFP candidates?
Will the NFP stalwarts be able to sway the current leadership into addressing the growing complaints of religious and racial vilification?
Edited by Percy Kean
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj
