ovember 18, 2014 - MEDIA RELEASE FIJI HAS A LOT TO LEARN FROM INDIAS DEMOCRACY. The decision by members of the SODELPA Opposition in Parliament to boycott the special parliament meeting planned for Indian Prime Minister His Excellency Narendra Modi is an internal decision of the SODELA parliamentary caucus. Therefore the National Federation Party cannot comment on SODELA’s decision. The NFP’s parliamentary caucus will attend the special meeting of Parliament with the exception of Honourable Tupou Draunidalo who has informed the Speaker through Secretary General to Parliament that she will be abroad during His Excellency Modi’s visit. Ms Draunidalo, the NFP President has a speaking engagement at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand that was pre-arranged before the announcement of the special parliament meeting. We welcome the State visit by His Excellency which comes 31 years after the last such visit by an Indian Prime Minister the late Mrs Indira Gandhi. The Government has a lot to learn from India’s democracy and His Excellency Modi has rightfully described parliament as “a temple of democracy”. The largest democracy and the biggest secular state in the world has institutions that provide rigid checks and balances including a robust Electoral Commission that is bereft of any interference from Government. The Government of Fiji after the elections promised inclusivity and respect for democratic norms and principles but this has remained mere rhetoric. The State visit by His Excellency Narendra Modi provides a perfect opportunity to Government to showcase parliamentary democracy and inclusivity. Biman Prasad Leader
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 04:45:12 +0000
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