Ro Teimumu says the opposition will always condemn desecration of temples

The Leader of Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa says the statement by the Attorney General at a gathering of the Hindus condemning the Opposition for its silence on the recent attacks on Hindu temples is a calculated scheme to whip up ethnic emotions, mislead the people and to develop vote bank politics in Fiji.

Ro Teimumu says she disagrees with the Attorney General and the Opposition has been the first to condemn these acts of sacrilege.

She says the Opposition deplores the attacks on the Hindu temples around Fiji in the strongest possible manner and calls upon the police to apprehend those involved and take them to task.

Ro Teimumu has labelled the government as a FijiFirst dictatorship.

She believes that the fact of the matter is that the alternative policies and leadership put up by the Opposition has created fear in the government.

Ro Teimumu says the Fijian President had urged all parliamentarians to contest the elections this year on issues.

She has raised the question on why the government is now deviating from that and raising questions related to race, religion and culture.

Ro Teimumu also asks why do they keep referring to “those politicians” not appreciating the fact that they themselves are politicians.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum had said that some opposition politicians are creating differences between the Hindus and Muslims in the country.

While speaking in the talanoa session on desecration of temples in Fiji at the Shree Gopal Sadhu Hanumaan Gadhi Mandir in Nakasi, Sayed‑Khaiyum said the people from these parties go and see and then report back to the parties that there are more North Indians, South Indians or Muslims attending the meetings.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says these people also go and say that the name of the FijiFirst should be M.M party. He says when they asked what is the meaning of M.M, they said that it means Madrasi Muslim Party.

He says that a particular political party that has been in Fiji for a very long time is saying this.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says they have recordings where these people are saying these things.

The Attorney General says we all have to stand up, talk and be bold enough to oppose comments based on race and religion.

This was the strong message by Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum while responding to a concern raised by a woman about hate speeches.

The woman had asked Sayed‑Khaiyum what the government is doing to deal with the number of hate speeches, taking into consideration what happened during the 2000 coup.