Chaudhry condemns the alleged act of sacrilege committed on a Hanuman statue last week

Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has condemned the alleged act of sacrilege committed on a Hanuman statue by a Lautoka pastor last week.

Chaudhry says it shows extreme religious intolerance in a society such as ours comprising a number of different religious and ethnic groups.

He says it also shows the stark disrespect to the memory of the man who had installed the statue.

The FLP Leader says neighbours who used to pray at the Hanuman shrine were appalled at the brutality displayed by the pastor towards a Hindu deity.

Chaudhry says if the family did not want the statue they could have given it away to one of the neighbours.

Meanwhile Police have started an investigation into the alleged case of sacrilege where the Hindu God’s statue was demolished and removed from a compound in Lawaki settlement in Lautoka.

Police Spokesperson, Ana Naisoro says a report was lodged by the neighbours.

She says officers were deployed to the settlement as there was tension in the community.

Pastor Rajesh Goundar of El-Shaddai Assemblies Of God Church in Wairabetia, Lautoka told Legend FM News yesterday that the owner of the house gave him the consent to demolish the idol and it was the family’s choice.