Opposition Member of Parliament Alvick Maharaj is calling for the immediate suspension and redesign of the newly constructed gas incinerator at Tuatua Cemetery in Labasa, claiming the facility fails to accommodate a fundamental Hindu cremation practice.
Maharaj said the government-funded project was built without proper consultation with Hindu religious leaders and disregards a key requirement of Hindu Vedic funeral rites.
“I am calling for an immediate suspension and structural re-engineering of the newly constructed gas incinerator at the Tuatua Cemetery in Labasa,” Maharaj said.
“According to deep-rooted Hindu Vedic rituals, during the final rites of cremation, the body must be positioned in a strict alignment where the head faces the North direction. This is not a minor preference; it is a fundamental spiritual requirement for the peaceful transition of the soul.”
He alleged that the design of the furnace prevents families from observing the practice.
“Shockingly, the layout and installation of this new taxpayer-funded furnace entirely violate this sacred practice, making it impossible for grieving families to perform their final religious obligations correctly.”
Maharaj accused the Government of failing to respect the religious beliefs of Hindus despite Fiji’s multicultural and multi-faith society.
“To build a public crematorium furnace that completely violates Hindu rituals is a blatant insult to our community’s faith and heritage,” he said.
The Opposition MP also challenged Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to clarify whether the issue stemmed from decisions made by the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs or reflected broader government policy.
“The Prime Minister now needs to come out clear to the nation: is it under his direct directive that his Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs has deliberately ignored the sacred practice under Hinduism, or is it the Minister’s own doing?”
Maharaj further alleged that concerns raised by Hindu religious leaders before construction were ignored and that some community representatives were warned they could lose access to multi-ethnic grants if they continued raising objections.
“The concern was raised well before it was built, with the line minister,” he said.
“Instead of listening to our Pundits, religious leaders and community elders with humility and a willingness to correct a structural mistake, the Minister chose to exhibit absolute arrogance and hostility.”
He described the alleged threat regarding grant funding as a violation of constitutional rights.
The MP said the controversy highlighted broader failures in consultation and project planning.
“Total lack of religious consultation, hostility towards faith leaders and flawed project management are at the heart of this issue,” Maharaj said.
“Taxpayer funds should never be used to build facilities that fundamentally restrict citizens from practicing their faith during their most vulnerable moments of grief.”
Until the issue is resolved, Maharaj is urging members of the Hindu community not to use the facility.
“Until such time that this critical error is rectified, and the furnace is re-engineered, I am strongly urging the Hindu community to boycott the use of this specific incinerator furnace.”
“We must stand united in protecting our religious integrity. We will not allow our sacred rituals to be diluted or treated as an afterthought by an insensitive administration.”
Maharaj is demanding that the Government undertake a fully funded redesign of the facility to accommodate the traditional north-facing alignment required during Hindu cremation rites.
