Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed concern at the desecration of Hindu idols at the Samabula Shiv Mandir but has cautioned against seeing it as a sign of growing religious intolerance.
Chaudhry, who visited the temple on Friday afternoon after the incident, says it is normal for Hindus to feel outraged at such attacks on their temples and places of worship but Friday’s incident may have been by a person believed to be mentally impaired.
Chaudhry says the man is now in Police custody and the law will take its course.
Chaudhry says unfortunately, such incidents occur from time to time.
He says we live in a plural society alongside adherents of other religions and have seen instances of religious intolerance.
The former Prime Minister says we must learn to take precautions and secure our temples and places of worship against such attacks just as we secure our homes.
He says he is deeply saddened to see the destruction of precious statues of historic antiquity going back to the early 1900s.
Chaudhry says this is to be deeply regretted as they are non replaceable.
He adds besides, any attack on a temple leading to destruction of sacred scriptures and statues leave deep scars and can be divisive in a multi-religious society.
Meanwhile, the suspect who allegedly entered and desecrated the temple has been referred for a psychiatric evaluation.
