Temple Damage Was Done by Dogs, Says Sachida Nand

Member of Parliament Sachida Nand has criticised Opposition members Ketan Lal, Premila Kumar, Hem Chand, and Virendra Lal for manipulating religion for political gain.

This was in regard to the recent incident at the Vunicuicui Shiv Mandir in Labasa.

FijiLive reports: Nand has clarified that the damage to the temple was caused by stray dogs, not a targeted act of sacrilege, as some had claimed. He said both the police and the temple management confirmed there was no human involvement.

“It is irresponsible and shameful for Opposition members to label this as a hate crime without facts,” Nand stated. “The temple management and the police have clearly stated this was the work of stray animals.”

He went on to criticise the opposition MPs for not even visiting the temple to understand the situation.

“They did not bother to go to the site or speak to the temple committee. Instead, they rushed to social media to stir emotions and score political points,” he said.

Nand emphasised the importance of promoting peace and unity and warned political leaders against using sensitive religious issues for attention or political mileage.

He also thanked the Fiji Police Force for their quick response and called on all sides to act responsibly and focus on facts rather than fearmongering.

Members of the Vunicuicui Shiv Mandir have also publicly rejected claims that the incident was racially motivated, reaffirming the harmony and unity within their community.