Speaker of Parliament Filimone Jitoko has ruled that remarks by Opposition MP Virendra Lal about alleged temple break‑ins were improper, ordering Mr Lal to apologise to the House and directing that the official record reflect the ruling.
Delivering his decision on a point of order raised by Minister Filimone Vosarogo during debate on a ministerial statement by Sashi Kiran, Mr Jitoko said he accepted Mr Lal’s clarification that his intention was to support and reinforce a message of national unity. “I accept Hon. Lal’s statement in his clarification that his intention was to support and reinforce the message of national unity,” the Speaker said, but added that the MP’s comments went beyond that intent.
Mr Jitoko said the problem arose when Mr Lal cited incidents involving Hindu temples and attributed them to “ethno‑nationalism and/or religious extremists” without evidence. The Speaker found those characterisations to be inaccurate in at least one specific instance, clearing up media and parliamentary confusion about an alleged break‑in at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Tavua. “The fact remains… there was no ‘break‑in’ at the stated temple, let alone the claim that there were ‘two break‑ins’ on the same night,” he said, explaining that someone had trespassed into the compound and walked away with a hose and a wheelbarrow.
Jitoko stressed the legal distinction between trespass and a break‑in, noting that “a person jumping over a neighbour’s fence does not amount to a break‑in,” and that trespass is a lesser offence under the law. He emphasised the need for accuracy when describing criminal incidents in Parliament and warned against making unsubstantiated allegations that could inflame tensions.
Citing Standing Order 62(4)(d), which prohibits words likely to “promote or provoke feelings of ill‑will or hostility between communities or ethnic groups within Fiji,” the Speaker concluded Mr Lal’s remarks breached parliamentary rules. “I find the objection raised… is of substance and valid,” Mr Jitoko said, and directed that Mr Lal apologise to Parliament for the breach.
In his ruling the Speaker also highlighted that incidents of vandalism and trespass are not confined to one faith community, pointing out that “other religious buildings including churches and mosques have also been targeted in the past.” The clarification and ruling underline Parliament’s insistence on restrained, evidence‑based debate on sensitive communal issues and the role of the Speaker in enforcing standing orders to protect national unity.