Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar has accused National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad of attempting to shift attention away from questions surrounding the Coalition Government’s handling of farmers’ concerns.
In a statement, Kumar said her earlier comments were not directed at farmers but at what she described as the political conduct of the NFP as a governing coalition partner.
“Hon. Biman Prasad is once again attempting to distort the issue and divert public attention away from the real question,” Kumar said.
“My statement was never against farmers. The concern is his political posture, acting as if he is standing outside the Government and fighting for farmers, when the NFP is part of the Government.”
Kumar argued that if Prasad genuinely wanted to address issues affecting farmers, the matter should have first been raised within government channels.
“If Hon. Biman Prasad genuinely wanted to resolve farmers’ concerns, the first place to raise the matter was not through public statements,” she said.
“It should have been taken to Cabinet and discussed with his coalition partners or with the Prime Minister, as the leader of the NFP. That is how any responsible coalition partner in any government is supposed to function.”
She said the NFP could not distance itself from decisions made by the Coalition Government while remaining part of it.
“The reality is that the NFP is not an outside observer,” Kumar said.
“Whether Hon. Biman Prasad speaks as an MP or as the leader of NFP, he carries the responsibility of the Government he is part of.”
“He cannot enjoy the privileges of being in Government while behaving as though he is in opposition whenever politically convenient.”
Kumar further claimed that the NFP lacked the political maturity required to function effectively within a coalition arrangement.
“It shows that NFP, as a partner in a coalition government, lacks the maturity to work together, respect agreed processes, and present coherent decisions to the people,” she said.
She also accused Prasad of deflecting criticism by raising comparisons with past governments.
“Instead of answering why NFP, as a coalition partner, is publicly asking the Government to do this and that, Hon. Prasad tries to change the conversation by dragging in comparisons about ‘two-man rule’ and ‘dictatorship’,” Kumar said.
“This is a deliberate distraction from the real issue.”
Kumar maintained that discipline within government should not be mistaken for authoritarianism.
“Discipline should never be confused with dictatorship,” she said.
“Good governance requires discipline. Discipline is what ensures that ministers act with responsibility, that policies are properly debated, and that the Government speaks with clarity and purpose.”
“A Government without discipline becomes a Government without direction. And what we see in the Coalition Government is chaos and a lack of discipline.”
Kumar also argued that Prasad had been involved in policy decisions that contributed to current economic pressures facing ordinary Fijians.
“When calls were made to reduce fuel duties to ease the burden on families and farmers, he opposed those measures,” she said.
“Today, he appears to be taking a different position and attempting to distance himself from the Government he helped to form.”
