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From Fijileaks Archive, 2014
LOST IN TRANSLATION? THANK YOU, PROFESSOR BIMAN CHAND PRASAD!
A special vote of thanks to NFP leader Professor Biman Chand Prasad, who, back in September 2014, kindly translated then Government Whip Ashneel Sudhakar's colourful Hindi proverb for yours truly.
Without the Professor's Hindi linguistic assistance, Victor Lal might never have fully appreciated being compared to one of the "mad dogs" allegedly barking as the elephant passed through town.
As the old saying goes: "Jab haathi shahar se guzarta hai toh gali ke paagal kutte bhaoka hi karte hain." Translation (courtesy of Professor Biman Prasad, September 2014): "When the elephant is walking through the town, all the mad dogs in town will naturally bark."
Twelve years on, the proverb has aged rather differently than perhaps its author intended.
The elephant appears to have wandered off, the political circus has changed tents more than once, and the former Government Whip has now found himself welcomed into a new political stable by his former FFP ministerial colleague Inia Seruiratu.
One wonders whether the original proverb still applies, or whether, in the great migration of Fiji politics, the elephant has become a chameleon.
Either way, Fijileaks remains grateful to Professor Biman Chand Prasad for ensuring nothing was lost in translation. After all, accurate translations are important, especially when politicians are speaking in proverbs instead of plain English.
The NFP leader and newly elected MP rose to the occasion, again, in November 2015.
A special vote of thanks to NFP leader Professor Biman Chand Prasad, who, back in September 2014, kindly translated then Government Whip Ashneel Sudhakar's colourful Hindi proverb for yours truly.
Without the Professor's Hindi linguistic assistance, Victor Lal might never have fully appreciated being compared to one of the "mad dogs" allegedly barking as the elephant passed through town.
As the old saying goes: "Jab haathi shahar se guzarta hai toh gali ke paagal kutte bhaoka hi karte hain." Translation (courtesy of Professor Biman Prasad, September 2014): "When the elephant is walking through the town, all the mad dogs in town will naturally bark."
Twelve years on, the proverb has aged rather differently than perhaps its author intended.
The elephant appears to have wandered off, the political circus has changed tents more than once, and the former Government Whip has now found himself welcomed into a new political stable by his former FFP ministerial colleague Inia Seruiratu.
One wonders whether the original proverb still applies, or whether, in the great migration of Fiji politics, the elephant has become a chameleon.
Either way, Fijileaks remains grateful to Professor Biman Chand Prasad for ensuring nothing was lost in translation. After all, accurate translations are important, especially when politicians are speaking in proverbs instead of plain English.
The NFP leader and newly elected MP rose to the occasion, again, in November 2015.
For years, Fijileaks had a running joke about former Government Whip Ashneel Sudhakar. Whenever another political controversy buzzed around him, we mischievously asked whether someone should send him another can of Mortein.
After all, every time the political mosquitoes started biting, Mr "800 Votes" somehow seemed to find another spray can to fumigate the headlines. The joke, of course, was never about insect spray. It was about political survival.
Then came 2020. Sudhakar's ministerial career imploded, he resigned from Parliament, and the once-powerful Government Whip disappeared from Fiji's political landscape faster than a cockroach when the kitchen light comes on.
For many, it looked as though the Mortein cupboard had finally run dry. How quickly politics proves us wrong.
A New Cupboard, A New Can
Politics, unlike Mortein, apparently never expires. Just when many thought Ashneel Sudhakar's political career had been consigned to history, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu opened the door of the People First Party and warmly welcomed him inside.
One cannot help wondering whether the welcome pack included a party constitution, a campaign T-shirt and, purely for nostalgic reasons, a jumbo-sized can of Mortein. The labels have changed. The party colours have changed. The slogans have changed. Apparently, political resurrection remains very much in fashion.
The Great Political Recycling Plant
Fiji politics has become wonderfully environmentally friendly. Nothing gets thrown away. Old politicians are recycled. Old alliances are recycled. Old speeches are recycled. Even old controversies are recycled, polished, repackaged and placed back on the political showroom floor with a shiny new price tag. One party's former headache somehow becomes another party's newest asset.
Forget Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. In Fiji politics, the slogan appears to be: Recruit. Rebrand. Relaunch. Repeat.
Fresh Politics or Fresh Packaging?
The People First Party promises a new beginning built on honesty, integrity and accountability. Every political party promises exactly that. The real test comes when the public looks beyond the mission statements and glossy photographs to examine the people being invited into the fold.
Voters are perfectly entitled to ask whether they are witnessing genuine political renewal or simply familiar faces appearing under a different banner. There is nothing unlawful about welcoming former politicians into a new party. Indeed, democracy depends on political participation. But democracy also depends on public scrutiny. Recruitment decisions speak just as loudly as policy speeches.
Questions for Mr Seruiratu
Inia Seruiratu is entirely entitled to recruit whomever he believes will strengthen his party. That is his democratic right. But by the same token, voters are entitled to ask whether those recruits reflect the standards the party says it wishes to uphold. If the People First Party is presenting itself as a clean break from the past, then the inevitable question becomes: A clean break from whose past? Fresh faces? Or simply familiar faces wearing freshly ironed shirts?
The Shelf Life of Political Memory
One of Fiji politics' most remarkable features is the astonishingly short shelf life of political memory. Yesterday's controversy becomes today's press conference. Yesterday's embarrassment becomes tomorrow's endorsement. Yesterday's political baggage is quietly relabelled as "valuable experience." Perhaps Fiji should stop talking about political parties and start talking about political laundries. Everything goes in heavily stained. Everything comes out looking remarkably fresh. At least until the next wash cycle.
The Last Spray
So perhaps the old Mortein joke still has life in it after all. The spray has not disappeared. It has merely changed cupboards. The can that once sat on the Government shelf now appears to have found a comfortable home elsewhere. Whether voters believe it is still effective, or whether it has long passed its expiry date, is a decision that ultimately belongs to them.
Until then, one mischievous question lingers in the political air: Has former Government Whip Ashneel Sudhakar found a fresh can of Mortein or has Inia Seruiratu simply handed him one?
Either way, Fiji politics continues to prove that while governments change, parties change and politicians change colours, one thing never seems to disappear completely: there is always another can of political Mortein hidden somewhere in the cupboard.
After all, every time the political mosquitoes started biting, Mr "800 Votes" somehow seemed to find another spray can to fumigate the headlines. The joke, of course, was never about insect spray. It was about political survival.
Then came 2020. Sudhakar's ministerial career imploded, he resigned from Parliament, and the once-powerful Government Whip disappeared from Fiji's political landscape faster than a cockroach when the kitchen light comes on.
For many, it looked as though the Mortein cupboard had finally run dry. How quickly politics proves us wrong.
A New Cupboard, A New Can
Politics, unlike Mortein, apparently never expires. Just when many thought Ashneel Sudhakar's political career had been consigned to history, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu opened the door of the People First Party and warmly welcomed him inside.
One cannot help wondering whether the welcome pack included a party constitution, a campaign T-shirt and, purely for nostalgic reasons, a jumbo-sized can of Mortein. The labels have changed. The party colours have changed. The slogans have changed. Apparently, political resurrection remains very much in fashion.
The Great Political Recycling Plant
Fiji politics has become wonderfully environmentally friendly. Nothing gets thrown away. Old politicians are recycled. Old alliances are recycled. Old speeches are recycled. Even old controversies are recycled, polished, repackaged and placed back on the political showroom floor with a shiny new price tag. One party's former headache somehow becomes another party's newest asset.
Forget Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. In Fiji politics, the slogan appears to be: Recruit. Rebrand. Relaunch. Repeat.
Fresh Politics or Fresh Packaging?
The People First Party promises a new beginning built on honesty, integrity and accountability. Every political party promises exactly that. The real test comes when the public looks beyond the mission statements and glossy photographs to examine the people being invited into the fold.
Voters are perfectly entitled to ask whether they are witnessing genuine political renewal or simply familiar faces appearing under a different banner. There is nothing unlawful about welcoming former politicians into a new party. Indeed, democracy depends on political participation. But democracy also depends on public scrutiny. Recruitment decisions speak just as loudly as policy speeches.
Questions for Mr Seruiratu
Inia Seruiratu is entirely entitled to recruit whomever he believes will strengthen his party. That is his democratic right. But by the same token, voters are entitled to ask whether those recruits reflect the standards the party says it wishes to uphold. If the People First Party is presenting itself as a clean break from the past, then the inevitable question becomes: A clean break from whose past? Fresh faces? Or simply familiar faces wearing freshly ironed shirts?
The Shelf Life of Political Memory
One of Fiji politics' most remarkable features is the astonishingly short shelf life of political memory. Yesterday's controversy becomes today's press conference. Yesterday's embarrassment becomes tomorrow's endorsement. Yesterday's political baggage is quietly relabelled as "valuable experience." Perhaps Fiji should stop talking about political parties and start talking about political laundries. Everything goes in heavily stained. Everything comes out looking remarkably fresh. At least until the next wash cycle.
The Last Spray
So perhaps the old Mortein joke still has life in it after all. The spray has not disappeared. It has merely changed cupboards. The can that once sat on the Government shelf now appears to have found a comfortable home elsewhere. Whether voters believe it is still effective, or whether it has long passed its expiry date, is a decision that ultimately belongs to them.
Until then, one mischievous question lingers in the political air: Has former Government Whip Ashneel Sudhakar found a fresh can of Mortein or has Inia Seruiratu simply handed him one?
Either way, Fiji politics continues to prove that while governments change, parties change and politicians change colours, one thing never seems to disappear completely: there is always another can of political Mortein hidden somewhere in the cupboard.
People First Party leader Inia Seruiratu has defended the party's decision to endorse former minister Ashneel Sudhakar, saying unproven allegations should not prevent him from contesting the 2026 General Election. Questions have been raised over Mr Sudhakar's selection after he was removed from Cabinet in 2020 following allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment. Mr Sudhakar, who was Minister for Lands at the time, resigned from the FijiFirst Party and was subsequently dismissed from his ministerial portfolio. Mr Seruiratu said the party was fully aware of the allegations but noted that Mr Sudhakar had never been charged or convicted.
"We are fully aware of that, but they were only allegations and it was a party process. He was never charged or convicted, so why should he be denied the opportunity to come back and contest the election?" he said.
Mr Seruiratu said it would be unfair to victimise Mr Sudhakar over the allegations.
"Everybody is innocent, so why should he be victimised because of those allegations? In all fairness, he is still innocent, which is why we considered him as a candidate."
The People First Party, launched last Saturday, remains open to accepting more candidates. The Fiji Sun.
"We are fully aware of that, but they were only allegations and it was a party process. He was never charged or convicted, so why should he be denied the opportunity to come back and contest the election?" he said.
Mr Seruiratu said it would be unfair to victimise Mr Sudhakar over the allegations.
"Everybody is innocent, so why should he be victimised because of those allegations? In all fairness, he is still innocent, which is why we considered him as a candidate."
The People First Party, launched last Saturday, remains open to accepting more candidates. The Fiji Sun.
From Fijileaks Archive, 6 October 2014
