The National Federation Party has strongly defended its leader, Professor Biman Prasad, following calls by London-based blogger and former journalist Victor Lal for his removal, accusing him of attempting to divide the party through religion and misinformation.
In a statement, NFP General Secretary Kamal Iyer condemned what he described as a coordinated attempt to undermine the party’s leadership after comments made by Professor Prasad during a recent interview on The Lens@177, The Fiji Times’ online portal program.
Iyer alleged that Lal sent an email on June 15 to NFP President Parmod Chand, Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs Pio Tikoduadua and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Lenora Qereqeretabua, urging them to force Professor Prasad to resign as party leader and Member of Parliament.
“The NFP will not tolerate this despicable, gutter-level and cowardly conspiracy of Lal who has used religion and concocted more lies in his attempt to break the party’s unity and solidarity and further concoct shameful lies against Professor Prasad,” Iyer said.
According to Iyer, Lal invoked Christianity in his appeal, writing to the recipients:
“As we are all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, for Christ’s sake, Biman Prasad must be forced to resign as NFP leader and also from Parliament.”
The party claims the use of religion was intended to create divisions within the parliamentary caucus.
“The Party firmly believes that Lal is using religion and a Bible verse to incite ill-will and hostility amongst the party’s ranks and hopes it drives a wedge amongst the caucus. He will never succeed,” Iyer said.
Iyer questioned why the email was not sent to Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh and Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran.
“The malicious email wasn’t sent to two other caucus members, Minister Agni Deo Singh and Minister Sashi Kiran. Why not? Is it because they both are Hindus?” he asked.
The NFP General Secretary also accused Lal of retaliating against Professor Prasad following remarks made during the Lens@177 interview.
“Apart from confirming in the email that he is the principal complainant in the FICAC case against Professor Prasad, Lal claims he has more evidence against the NFP leader.”
Iyer said Lal also made derogatory remarks about The Lens host Anish Chand in the email and concluded his correspondence with a Bible verse, something the party described as “distasteful, repugnant and repulsive.”
He said the party remained united behind its leader despite what it views as external attempts to destabilise the organisation.
“Lal cannot digest the fact that despite his conspiracies, the NFP remains a strong, united force.”
In his strongest remarks, Iyer declared that neither Victor Lal nor his allegations would determine the future leadership of the National Federation Party.
