RESIGN: We repeat that BIMAN PRASAD must resign and Prasad, his wife Rajni, Ganesh Chand, Satya Nand Shandil, Pal Ahluwalia (re questions regarding the two-day international girmit conference at USP) and PP Director Peni Taoi be questioned by Fiji Police and FICAC.
*We have been reliably informed by Coalition government insiders that in April 2023, Cabinet had been persuaded to allocate $2.6million to a private entity, the Pacific Polytechnic, the brainchild of the former controversial FNU VC GANESH CHAND, who allegedly loaned $100,000 to the setting up of the PP, and also obtained $50,000 from TAIWAN.
*Scores of leaked emails, documents, contracts, exchanges between lawyers for PP and Sanatan Dharm, reveal that Coalition's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister BIMAN PRASAD was aware of the dispute with Sangam authorities who want to reclaim their properties occupied by PP that owes it $160,000 in rent arrears.
*As we pointed out, FIAS and Global Girmit Institute (Prasad, Rajni and Ganesh Chand) have close links with the Pacific Polytechnic Ltd.
*We will reveal documents where Chand has surrendered FIAS and its business to the Pacific Polytechnic Ltd.
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   |  Prasad's old link with FIAS  |
"The cabinet has approved a joint proposal from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance to explore various options to support Pacific Polytech as Fiji is facing constraints in terms of availability of technical skills for its industry and public sectors.
While making an announcement on the decision following yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says unfortunately, the number of TVET graduates have declined consistently in Fiji during the last 5 to 6 years.
He says as such, there is a need to strengthen the technical, vocational education and training sector.
Rabuka says submissions from Pacific Polytech show that it has acquired four campuses in Tavua, Lautoka, Suva and Nausori and it intends to establish campuses around the country."
FijiVillage News, 29 March 2023
From Fijileaks Archive, 8 August 2020
From Fijileaks Archives, November 2015
In the e-mail below, Biman Prasad lists that he is Director, Fiji Institute of Applied Studies (FIAS).
*Are we to believe that his long-standing side-kick Ganesh Chand, a co-trustee with Rajni on re-registered GGI, didn't consult a former FIAS Director when he signed away FIAS activities to PP on 15 February 2023, the day Prasad announced $500,000 for the Girmit Day celebrations?
Outgoing president Dewan Maharaj (left) is led by his successor Sarju Prasad at the Sanatan celebrations at Wainibokasi, Nausori
"I attended the Easter weekend convention of the Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji since I wanted to support the Dreketi soccer team which was formed by the younger players living in Suva. I was impressed with the energy of the players and their enthusiasm towards community participation. While attending the soccer tournament, I had the opportunity to sit through the opening ceremony of the convention at the Shreedhar Maharaj College, in Nausori. A school named after a great Sanatani, moral and ethical community and religious leader and a businessman, the late Mr. Shreedhar Maharaj. The opening ceremony had a total of approximately 300 people who had congregated in the leaking and soggy shed; most of those who attended were women who had travelled from different districts to attend the convention. In fact, more people are usually present during individual Ramayan mandali gatherings around the country and in temples than the numbers that were present at the annual convention.
The presidential speech by Mr. Dewan Chand Maharaj was more like a talk given by some local community leader to primary school students on unity, HIV and how Sanatani’s should always promote unity and how women should behave in society. He even, wrongly stated that the President of Fiji was Ratu Epeli Ganilau. The Chief Guest Indian High Commissioner brought some respect back to the occasion by his very clear, concise and excellent speech about the role of Sanatani’s in Fiji and how they could contribute to building a multiracial Fiji. I believe the poor planning failed to attract a decent crowd to the convention, a direct reflection of very poor and pathetic leadership.
In fact the whole opening ceremony was a disgrace. I could not stop myself from reminiscing, the excellent leadership provided by people like Honourable Harish Sharma, Pt. Salik Ram Sharma and Mr. Surendra Kumar. Thousands of enthusiastic Sanatani’s used to attend the annual convention in the past.
The current leadership of the Sabha has put the whole organization to disrepute. One has to only compare ethical and professional leadership standards shown by other religious and cultural organizations in Fiji with what the Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha is able to put up. It then does not take long to understand why so many Sanatani’s have been put off by the current leadership. Many are disillusioned with the organization and have shied away from participating in its activities. What you hear from the ramblings of Mr. Vijendra Prakash and Mr. Dewan Maharaj is lectures to the ordinary members on how they should behave and not question them.
In addition, no one questions their individual loyalty and support to the Bainimarama government. However, Mr. Vijendra Prakash and Mr. Dewan Maharaj have given statements and dragged the Sabha into the political arena by openly declaring that the Sabha supports the government’s 2013 draft constitution. This is nothing short of misrepresenting the views of the ordinary members. Nothing was discussed about the draft Constitution at the convention yet Mr. Vijendra Prakash and Mr. Dewan Maharaj have gone openly to the media declaring the Sabah’s support for the draft constitution.
In fact they have gone against the government’s often stated position that religious organizations should remain apolitical.
The future of the Sanatan Dharam Prithinidhi Sabha looks grim. The organization led by Mr. Dewan Maharaj and his Secretary, Mr. Vijendra Prakash have managed to implement a new Constitution which has several undemocratic provisions. The election held on Sunday to elect the office bearers other than the President cannot be said to be fair and transparent. The General Secretary, Mr. Vijendra Prakash, who was contesting the election, was involved in the so called sorting/counting out of the votes.
Where are the moral and ethical standards of these officials who preach publicly about moral and ethical standards?
To add insult to injury to all the Sanatani’s in Fiji, a man who is currently before the court for presenting false transfer documents to transfer a temple property belonging to Shree Sanatan Dharam Nasea Ramayan Mandali to the Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, has been elected National President.
If he was a person with principles, he should have stood aside and let one of the senior Vice Presidents like Mr. Ashok Balgovind to act as President until his court case is resolved.
The trustees of the organization must act now and ask all the national officials to stand aside until an independent investigation is carried out on all the activities of the Sabha, its elections, its finances, processes and procedures. If the investigation shows irregularities in any aspect of the organization, especially in the process of adopting the new Constitution of the Sabha, the finances and the conduct of the elections, the office bearers should all be asked to resign and a fresh election be called. In fact they should hand over the leadership to the Trustees, after the failed convention. This would have saved the Sabha from further disunity and fragmentation.
The current leadership has presided over a most disunited organization since its inception. If the largest Hindu organisation in Fiji begins to put its leadership into the hands of a person who is currently before the court, and allows it to be run by unconstitutional, unethical and unclear means, it is unlikely to serve its members effectively."
Fijileaks Editor: The view expressed in this article does not reflect in anyway the view of Professor Prasad's employer, the University of the South Pacific.
The presidential speech by Mr. Dewan Chand Maharaj was more like a talk given by some local community leader to primary school students on unity, HIV and how Sanatani’s should always promote unity and how women should behave in society. He even, wrongly stated that the President of Fiji was Ratu Epeli Ganilau. The Chief Guest Indian High Commissioner brought some respect back to the occasion by his very clear, concise and excellent speech about the role of Sanatani’s in Fiji and how they could contribute to building a multiracial Fiji. I believe the poor planning failed to attract a decent crowd to the convention, a direct reflection of very poor and pathetic leadership.
In fact the whole opening ceremony was a disgrace. I could not stop myself from reminiscing, the excellent leadership provided by people like Honourable Harish Sharma, Pt. Salik Ram Sharma and Mr. Surendra Kumar. Thousands of enthusiastic Sanatani’s used to attend the annual convention in the past.
The current leadership of the Sabha has put the whole organization to disrepute. One has to only compare ethical and professional leadership standards shown by other religious and cultural organizations in Fiji with what the Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha is able to put up. It then does not take long to understand why so many Sanatani’s have been put off by the current leadership. Many are disillusioned with the organization and have shied away from participating in its activities. What you hear from the ramblings of Mr. Vijendra Prakash and Mr. Dewan Maharaj is lectures to the ordinary members on how they should behave and not question them.
In addition, no one questions their individual loyalty and support to the Bainimarama government. However, Mr. Vijendra Prakash and Mr. Dewan Maharaj have given statements and dragged the Sabha into the political arena by openly declaring that the Sabha supports the government’s 2013 draft constitution. This is nothing short of misrepresenting the views of the ordinary members. Nothing was discussed about the draft Constitution at the convention yet Mr. Vijendra Prakash and Mr. Dewan Maharaj have gone openly to the media declaring the Sabah’s support for the draft constitution.
In fact they have gone against the government’s often stated position that religious organizations should remain apolitical.
The future of the Sanatan Dharam Prithinidhi Sabha looks grim. The organization led by Mr. Dewan Maharaj and his Secretary, Mr. Vijendra Prakash have managed to implement a new Constitution which has several undemocratic provisions. The election held on Sunday to elect the office bearers other than the President cannot be said to be fair and transparent. The General Secretary, Mr. Vijendra Prakash, who was contesting the election, was involved in the so called sorting/counting out of the votes.
Where are the moral and ethical standards of these officials who preach publicly about moral and ethical standards?
To add insult to injury to all the Sanatani’s in Fiji, a man who is currently before the court for presenting false transfer documents to transfer a temple property belonging to Shree Sanatan Dharam Nasea Ramayan Mandali to the Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, has been elected National President.
If he was a person with principles, he should have stood aside and let one of the senior Vice Presidents like Mr. Ashok Balgovind to act as President until his court case is resolved.
The trustees of the organization must act now and ask all the national officials to stand aside until an independent investigation is carried out on all the activities of the Sabha, its elections, its finances, processes and procedures. If the investigation shows irregularities in any aspect of the organization, especially in the process of adopting the new Constitution of the Sabha, the finances and the conduct of the elections, the office bearers should all be asked to resign and a fresh election be called. In fact they should hand over the leadership to the Trustees, after the failed convention. This would have saved the Sabha from further disunity and fragmentation.
The current leadership has presided over a most disunited organization since its inception. If the largest Hindu organisation in Fiji begins to put its leadership into the hands of a person who is currently before the court, and allows it to be run by unconstitutional, unethical and unclear means, it is unlikely to serve its members effectively."
Fijileaks Editor: The view expressed in this article does not reflect in anyway the view of Professor Prasad's employer, the University of the South Pacific.
