Political leaders have been questioned on what they are doing to address the fear faced by the Indo-Fijian community during every election, as the community continues to feel threatened, victimised and concerned about land issues, resulting in many people leaving Fiji.
The issue was raised by a member of the public, named Kajal during the Fijian Media Association's Town Hall Forum on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 at the Fiji National University in Nasinu.
INSERT: Kajol on fear among community 1st Nov
She says people who previously had better jobs in Fiji were now leaving to take up jobs such as housekeeping overseas because they want to have a place they can truly call home.
She asked what is being done to address the issue.
In response, Opposition MP Premila Kumar says she understands the concerns raised about the fear within the Indo-Fijian community during election periods and that this fear is a fact.
Kumar questions how the proposed Constitution protects Indo-Fijians and other minority groups, saying there is hardly anything in the document that specifically addresses the protection of minority communities.
She says Indo-Fijians are expected to pay taxes and contribute to the country's economic growth, but continue to fear what could happen to them, because they are the first ones who lose their homes which are burned down.
She says this fear is not creating harmony and that some of the most talented Indo-Fijians were leaving the country.
Kumar questioned how Fiji can grow its economy if it continues to lose talented people.
Fiji Labour Party Leader and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry says the proposed Constitution is deficient and does not adequately protect the rights of minority communities.
Chaudhry says this is particularly evident in the electoral system as he questions the five reserved seats for the maritime community, saying that based on the average number of voters per constituency, they would be entitled to just one seat, not five.
He says these are issues that need to be looked at very carefully, as minority communities were being marginalised while the majority community is given further concessions.
Chaudhry says there is no doubt that minority communities, particularly Indo-Fijians, are being sidelined, and this is one of the reasons for the dissatisfaction and people leaving Fiji.
He says this had been happening under different governments over the past 40 years, since 1987, and the country is paying the price.
He stresses that Fiji cannot continue to push away people who contributed to the economy, worked hard and had lived in the country for 150 years.
The FLP Leader also raised concerns about the situation in rural areas, saying land is reverting to bush, there is little investment in villages and ordinary people are not receiving enough support.
He says even members of the indigenous community are now leaving Fiji in large numbers because of the lack of development in rural areas.
He also says that 75 percent of people living in poverty today are indigenous Fijians and questioned the Government's commitment to protecting indigenous rights.
He says politicians should stop dividing people along racial lines and work towards transforming the country.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and People's Alliance Party Deputy Leader Manoa Kamikamica says he is concerned by Chaudhry's comments about minority rights and suggests they might be reading two different documents.
Kamikamica says he had previously asked Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj what were the most important things he wanted retained in the Constitution.
He says the five points raised were national identity as Fijian, a secular state, equal citizenship, protection of land and the Bill of Rights.
He says all five were included in the proposed Constitution.
Kamikamica explained that although the term secular state was not used, religious liberty and freedom are included in the document.
He says the politics of race is over in Fiji and that the protection needed by minority communities is already in the proposed Constitution.
He challenged those who believe minority protection is missing to identify exactly where they need further protection.
