Deputy Prime Minister and NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad has launched a blistering rebuttal to Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, describing his remarks on the Indo-Fijian population decline as “political buffoonery of the highest order.”
Prof Prasad was responding to Mr Seruiratu’s claims that the National Federation Party and the Coalition Government had failed to champion Indo-Fijian interests, contributing to the community’s population decline.
“That is the most nonsensical and ludicrous claim made by an Opposition leader in a very long time,” he said.
“The Indo-Fijian population growth rate started declining from 1975. The reason is low birth rates, not government policy, and certainly not the NFP.”
He reminded Mr Seruiratu that during the 16 years of FijiFirst rule, where Seruiratu was a senior figure, Indo-Fijian voices were actively suppressed.
“They exiled Professor Brij Lal, one of Fiji’s most eminent historians, and denied his widow the right to return and bury his ashes in his homeland,” Prof Prasad said.
“And now Seruiratu wants to pretend he’s a champion for Indo-Fijians? Please.”
“If he continues this gutter-level politics, he risks drowning in his own political buffoonery.”
