Seasoned politician Surendra Lal expressed his disappointment over discussions suggesting that politics should be kept out of the Cane Growers Council.
Mr Lal argued that people should not be restricted from contesting elections based on their political party membership.
“Don’t say that everyone is a member of a political party. One may have their own hearts in any political party,” he said.
Speaking at the consultation on the Sugar Industry Bill at the FSC Top Club in Labasa yesterday, Mr Lal said such restrictions were unfair.
“Now, if you try to bring that into it, if you are a member of the National Federation Party, FijiFirst or Labour, you can’t contest elections,” he said.
He said politics was integral to all areas of life.
“Politics is everywhere as it’s a democratic process of making decisions,” he said.
“Under that politics, members of parliament are called politicians. Now, you can’t even get into schools or board committees without political decisions.”
