The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, August 18, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

India must back us: Chaudhry
From S Satyanarayanan
Tribune News Service

Aug 17 — Bahujamalpur (Rohtak) — There was an air of happiness all around as the ‘son of the soil’, the ‘deposed’ Fijian Prime Minister, Mr Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, paid his first-ever visit to his ancestoral village here today.

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, led the people of the state in according a rousing reception to Mr Chaudhry, who was kept in captivity in Fiji for 52 days by coup leader George Speight.

Thousands of men, women and children of different age groups cheered and clapped as Mr Chautala gave a traditional warm welcome to Mr Chaudhry by tying a ‘pagri’ (turban) on his head at the public felicitation ceremony held on the lawns of Maharshi Dayanand University.

As Mr Chaudhry stepped on to the dais and waved to the crowd, many villagers jostled with each other to have a glimpse of the Fijian leader, who was wearing a grey suit and sporting a tilak on his forehead. He was accompanied by his wife, Virmati Chaudhry, and his close confidant and Senator, Mr Dalpat Rathore.

An overwhelmed Mr Chaudhry said he was moved by the ‘spontaneous’ welcome accorded by the people of Haryana and urged the Indian Government to extend “strong” support to him in his fight to restore democracy in Fiji.

“I feel good for being able to visit my ancestoral home, but at the same time I feel sad that the universal value of democracy and human dignity remains violated in Fiji at the moment,” he said speaking in chaste Hindi.

Stating that he would continue to fight for the restoration of democracy in Fiji, he said, “India must realise its power and strongly support us in restoration of democracy in our country.”

“India should not depend on what the UK and Australia feel or think about the coup in Fiji and should strongly support us because it (India) should realise that the people who are suffering in Fiji are Indians,” he said.

Accepting with great humility the warm reception accorded by the people, Mr Chaudhry said for him Fiji was the “Motherland” and India was the “Mother”.

Referring to the coup and his 52-day-long captivity, Mr Chaudhry said, “The coup was conspiracy from a few ethnic Fijians, who feared that the people of Indian origin, who prospered with their sheer hard work despite several hurdles, would have a strong hold in the country’s politics too.”

“No, we were never against the ethnic community... Rather we saved many of them from the repression of the British,” he said adding, “Our struggle will continue, but we urge the international community to understand the plight of the people of Indian origin in Fiji and take steps which would give us justice.”

He demanded that the democratically elected government led by him should be restored and the Constitution providing equal status to all should not be tampered with.

Earlier, welcoming the Fijian leader, Mr Chautala said that true to the philosophy of the Gita, Mr Chaudhry had shown undeterred commitment in his fight to restore democracy in the island nation.

He said Mr Chaudhry belonged to that state where great leaders like Deen Bandhu, Sir Chhotu Ram strived hard to create a new social order and the land which had produced many brave soldiers.

Stating that the felicitation ceremony was not a “formal function” but reflected the true love and affection of the people, Mr Chautala asked the people of the state to give Re 1 per head so that Rs 1.60 crore could be collected and given to Mr Chaudhry before his departure on August 26 to Fiji.

“Haryana has a population of 1.60 crore and I would like you to donate one Re 1 head so that we can give that money to Mr Chaudhry as a token of love to strengthen his fight to restore democracy,” Mr Chautala said asking the sarpanches to collect the money and deposit it with the Zila Deputy Commissioners before August 26.

Mr Chautala assured all possible help from the Haryana Government and the people of the state to Mr Chaudhry in his fight for restoration of democracy in Fiji.

“For us you will remain the Prime Minister of Fiji and not deposed Premier and we will continue to extend all possible help,” he said.

The ceremony was unique in itself as despite political differences, leaders of all political parties shared the dais, spoke in one voice and extended support to the deposed Fijian Prime Minister.

Among the speakers were Mr Inderjeet Singh (CPM), Mr Ram Vilas Sharma and Mr Rattal Lal Kataria (BJP), Mr Bhishan Lal (BSP), Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Congress), Mr Surender Singh (HVP) and former Union Minister Mr Ajay Singh.

A former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Devi Lal, was also present.

Earlier, Mr Chaudhary was given an honorary Doctorate by the Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Maj-Gen (Retd) B.S. Suhag, at a glittering function attended by top academics and others. The Haryana Governor, Mr Babu Parmanand, Mr Devi Lal, Mr Chautala were present.

In the morning, on his arrival at Tilyar Tourist Complex in Rohtak, Mr Chaudhry was received by the Governor, the Chief Minister and other Cabinet colleagues of Mr Chautala.

Huge welcome boards and banners were put up all along the road leading to Rohtak and a large number of school children and villagers stood all along the route and waved colourful flags as Mr Chaudhry’s motorcade passed by.