Mahendra Chaudhry Quotes (40 quotes) | Quotes of famous people

Context: Laisenia Qarase, Prime Minister since 2000: "(These protests) are led by a man who has been convicted by the Suva magistrate’s court for causing the death of a person. Mr Chaudhry himself was convicted sometime back for manslaughter and he was released from prison only three days after serving his sentence on a CSO (Compulsory Supervision Order)." (accusing Chaudhry of hypocrisy for campaigning against the early release of politicians jailed for their part in the 2000 coup).

“The current provisions in the Bill purporting to promote reconciliation are seriously flawed. There should be clear provisions for those appearing before the reconciliation commission to admit the truth under oath and to divulge all that they know about the events of 2000.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

2 August 2005
Opposition to the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission

“It was the FLP that was committed to reducing the cost of doing business and started by lowering the cost of utilities, and requested the commercial banks and lending organizations to reduce their fees, charges and interest rates. The FLP also moved to reduce public expenditure, which saw a saving of $96 million in its year in office. It was also the FLP, which lowered interest in Housing Authority home loans from 12 per cent to 6 per cent for those on lower incomes. It was the aggregate effect of this and a range of other measures of tight fiscal control, investment in key growth areas and a firm hand on curbing corruption that saw the economy record an unprecedented growth of 9.6% in 1999.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Reaction to Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's address to the Fiji Employers Federation in Nadi, 4 September 2005

“It is part of our identity as Hindus and the Festival of Lights is today a celebration of the beauty of our culture, our Hindu values which, let me assure you, are second to none in the world.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

"Diwali is an integral part of Hindu culture" http://www.flp.org.fj/n021102.htm - speech at Diwali celebrations in Ba, 2 November 2002

“This nation made a mistake the first time it granted amnesty to the perpetrators of the 1987 coup. The trust and confidence we showed then was sadly displaced. This time around, we must take a hard line attitude to those who think they can overthrow a democratically-elected government with impunity. We have to stamp out this coup-culture that has developed in Fiji.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

20 May 2005
Opposition to the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission

“At no time did I ask Shri Chautala to launch such an appeal which he did at a public meeting in Haryana and in the course of my visit to India following my release from captivity.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Parliamentary speech, 2 December 2005 (excerpts)

“The rule of law must apply equally to everyone, irrespective of status in society or class divisions it is this equal application that is the bulwark of modern democracies.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Reaction to Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's address to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Nadi, 31 August 2005

“It is these double standards that have and are still keeping the ordinary Fijian shackled to a now outdated system of feudal control, thus contributing to their poverty and misery, whilst certain chiefs and a large number of Fijian elites continue to substantially increase their wealth at the expense of their poorer subjects.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Reaction to Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's address to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Nadi, 31 August 2005

“You have the choice to be governed by those who aim to keep us segregated in racial compartments so they can continue to enjoy their privileged status in society, at your expense.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Address to the conference of the Fiji Labour Party, Lautoka, 31 July 2005

“If the trend continues, Fiji will be left with a large pool of poorly educated, unskilled work force with disastrous consequences on our social and economic infrastructure and levels of investment.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Comments on Fiji's high emigration rate (19 June 2005)

“My detractors here are engaged in a propaganda that I have received the money and used it for my own purposes.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Parliamentary speech, 2 December 2005 (excerpts)

“The 18 years since 1987 brought us nothing but bad leadership and bad governance.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Address to the conference of the Fiji Labour Party, Lautoka, 31 July 2005

“It is wrong for others to be asking for forgiveness on behalf of those who had committed the crime because it is not right.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

29 June 2005
Opposition to the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission

“To hide behind culture or tradition to justify anarchy is a gross insult to the very people whose culture or tradition may be paraded to glorify criminal conduct.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Speech at a farewell function for outgoing United States Ambassador David Lyon, 15 July 2005 (excerpts)

“I was born here. I am not a foreigner here. I have every right to fight for this country. We are not going to subjugate ourselves to a constitution … signing away all our rights and agreeing to be slaves.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Miscellaneous quotes

“There is absolutely no doubt that our future as a nation, lies in drawing strength from the richness of the cultural diversity that surrounds us, for in that alone lies our sustainability and viability as a sovereign state.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

"The Legacy of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara" - Memorial Lecture http://www.flp.org.fj/s030827.htm, Waterfront Hotel, Lautoka, 27 August 2003

“I’m sure that with tolerance and understanding of each other’s cultural identities, compassion for those less fortunate than ourselves and a passionate commitment to all that is fair, socially just and honest we can build a united and prosperous society in Fiji.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Christmas message, 22 December 2005 (excerpts)

“The Government's determination to push through the controversial Amnesty Bill has created deep divisions in the nation, and leaves behind indelible impressions of an administration that backs lawless elements in society.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

New Year message, 22 December 2005 (excerpts)

“I firmly believe that you all should identify yourselves as Fijian Americans, Fijian Canadians even though this right of being called a Fijian is denied to us (except the indigenous people) in our homeland of Fiji.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Message to the California Fiji Festival 2005

“My anger about the whole episode is that Shri Chautala should exploit the feelings of the ordinary and poor folks of Haryana who are emotionally tied to me and to the people of Indian origin in Fiji and play on them a game of deceit for self enrichment.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Parliamentary speech, 2 December 2005 (excerpts)

“As a nation we have not progressed much, particularly after 1987 when we had the political upheaval. Last 18 years since has been a sad story where we have seen a nation which was happy, prosperous, and united flight back to poverty, misery, and division.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Fiji Day address, 10 October 2005 (excerpts)

“The message in the last five years, in particular, has come through loud and clear: We need to get together as a nation. If we are to surmount our many problems, if we are to realise our full potential as a nation so that the benefits of developments are passed on to all and sundry, then we must reject racist and fundamentalist forces.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Parliamentary speech, 14 November 2005 (excerpts)

“"It is disgraceful that the Prime Minister should deceive Church leaders to get their support for the Bill. He then had the audacity to mislead the nation by claiming that the Bill had the support of Christians." (Commenting on allegations made by Roman Catholic Archbishop Petero Mataca that Qarase had misled church leaders about the true contents of the legislation).”

Mahendra Chaudhry

Opposition to the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission

“It is disgraceful that the Prime Minister should deceive Church leaders to get their support for the Bill. He then had the audacity to mislead the nation by claiming that the Bill had the support of Christians.”

Mahendra Chaudhry

(Commenting on allegations made by Roman Catholic Archbishop Petero Mataca that Qarase had misled church leaders about the true contents of the legislation).
Opposition to the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission