Opposition MP Ketan Lal has rejected what he calls the “false and misleading narrative being advanced by the Assistant Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Hon. Shalen Kumar” who has filed a report against him for allegedly inciting communal antagonism.
Kumar put out a statement yesterday condemning a recent social media post Lal.
“His reckless action to share the statement regarding the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), the “Kai Viti,” and the KVT crime gang is a calculated, irresponsible, and profoundly divisive act against the foundations of our nation,” Kumar stated.
“This behaviour is a gross betrayal of our national unity and deliberately seeks to undermine the multi-ethnic harmony that my Government is steadfastly committed to defending.”
Lal hit back today saying “for the avoidance of any doubt, my intention was never to demean, insult or incite hatred against the iTaukei people or any community in Fiji.”
“The post in question was a direct reference to an opinion published in the Fiji Times Quick Views column, I did not create, originate, or manipulate that statement,I cited existing published content as part of public discourse.”
“The line shared, “We all know that the GCC has a 100-year history of sorting problems for the Kai Viti” ,was quoted in its original context from a nationally circulated newspaper and I also added the published article in question.”
“At no point did I associate the iTaukei people with criminal activity, nor did I draw any racial linkage to gangs or crime, as has now been irresponsibly and maliciously alleged.”
Kumar contends that Lal chose to amplify the term “Kai Viti” in linking it to the KVT gang.
“I find the gravity of this transgression amplified by the fact that the Honorable Member chose to explicitly extract and utilize the term “Kai Viti”, a defining term for the indigenous owners of this land, in a derogatory context linked to criminality. This action indicates the severe gravity of classifying our people by race. It is nothing short of a cynical attempt to perpetuate ethnic differences and incite racial hatred.”
Lal dismissed this claim as politically motivated.
“To distort this into an accusation of “inciting communal antagonism” is not only inaccurate, but dangerous and politically motivated. It weaponises ethnicity for cheap political mileage and trivialises serious legal provisions that are meant to protect genuine victims of hate speech.”
But Kumar has confirmed to media that he has filed a report.
“The Honorable Member’s rhetoric is not merely political; it is potentially criminal. In my view, the Honorable Ketan Lal must be investigated and charged for Inciting Communal Antagonism contrary to Section 65(2)(ii) of the Crimes Act 2009. His communication, promoting “feelings of enmity or ill will between different communities,” meets the threshold for this serious indictable offence,” Kumar said.
