Showkutally Soodhun navigating through hot waters

Showkutally Soodhun, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Housing and Lands, is once again in dire straits. The incident was filmed with the help of a hidden camera.

In the said video, he is heard making communal statements during a meeting at his ministry’s office last July. The meeting was about the grievances of residents of Palma in line with the construction of houses for low-income people. His comments have been interpreted as inflammatory, having the potential of inciting communal tension.

Soodhun has been at the centre of many controversies over recent months. He is currently being sued for having publicly made death threats against the leader of the opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, in July. During a workshop in September on the NHDC's Syndicates and Residents Associations, entitled “Building a Better Mauritius for our Children”, the Vice Prime Minister was irritated by comments made by a lady in the audience.

The latter told him that he was out of subject since he was discussing the former Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam in his speech. Furious, Soodhun ordered the lady to stop talking and asked her to leave the workshop. Questions have also been raised following a video from the ‘Menteur Menteur’ show by La Sentinelle which suggests that Showkutally Soodhun might have lied regarding the number of suitcases he came back with, following his trip by private jet from Saudi Arabia to Mauritius. The question this time remains whether the Vice Prime Minister would face the consequences of his actions.

In fact, Nad Sivaramen, director of publications at La Sentinelle and investigative journalist Axcel Chenney, who were in possession of the video, met with the Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Tuesday to show him the facts. “The journalists have talked to me about this issue and I spoke with the Minister (Soodhun),” said Pravind Jugnauth. The Prime Minister also said that an investigation has been initiated and that he is waiting for the outcomes before commenting any further on the matter.

“I have 35-year-old career and I have always treated everyone on an equal basis. Have a look at my constituency. I have donated thousands of rupees for the construction of churches. The ‘swami’ of 16th Mile has congratulated me just yesterday (Wednesday). For all this work that I have done, people are now calling me a ‘communalist’. I have started as a trade unionist,” uttered Showkutally Soodhun, when being sought for comments on the matter by a journalist of the Defi Media Group. “Let me tell Xavier Duval to have a look at what the PMSD has said in the past. To Paul Bérenger, too. His protests in 2003, which stopped the construction of a NHDC homes at La Gaulette.Has he forgotten about it? Now there are all kinds of accusations against me. I am a person of faith and my faith tells me to respect others in order for others to respect me. Ask Père Labour and the priest of Cite Longeur. I have enabled the construction of 150 houses since 15 years and there are 500-600 people from the general population living there. Xavier went there and visited when he was a Minister but never did anything while I did. I donated money from my own salary for people of Tranquebar for the construction of houses,” he added.

 Political parties demanding Soodhun’s resignation

The PMSD, the MMM and the Labour Party are all demanding Showkutally Soodhun’s resignation as Vice Prime Minister and Deputy of the National Assembly. According to these three political parties, Soodhun no longer deserves the title of ‘honorable’ following this new controversy.

Member of the PMSD, Aurore Perraud, said that she considers Soodhun’s comments as a personal attack. “The comments of Showkutally Soodhun raise many questions about equal opportunity and meritocracy in this country. It is sad that on the eve of our 50 years of independence, the government has voted a budget to celebrate in pomp the national holiday, but one of its ministers makes remarks that can rekindle communal hatred in society,” she said.

The general secretary of the MMM, Ajay Gunness, underlined the damages that Showkutally Soodhun’s words could have caused. “Let the Prime Minister act instead of investigating and playing firefighters. We appeal for the immediate dismissal of Showkutally Soodhun as Deputy and Minister.

Pravind Jugnauth has no choice but to send voters back to the polls because there is not a week that goes on without the government getting entangled in scandals that can put the country at risk.” The leader of the MMM, Paul Bérenger, also demanded same in his speech during a meeting held on Wednesday night in the framework of the electoral campaign at Belle Rose/Quatre Bornes.

Moreover, the President of the Labour Party, Patrick Assirvaden, stated: “It’s hurtful, insulting and degrading to a community. I appeal to the Catholic Church, Cardinal Maurice Piat and Vicar General Maurice Labour to take a stand and immediately condemn the words of Showkutally Soodhun.”

Two complaints at CCID against Soodhun

Désiré Johnson, candidate for the by-election in constituency Belle Rose/Quatre Bornes, filed  a complaint at the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) on Thursday against the Minister of Lands and Housing.

“I am not a politician but a revolutionary for justice, peace and freedom. I am in favour of fundamental rights,” he stated. The member of the Taxi Militant Malhéré Morisyen party was accompanied by his lawyer, Anoop Goodary. “We live in a multicultural country where harmony reigns. We do not want any form of discrimination.

As long as people will suffer from exploitation and won’t be able to live in liberty, I will fight for them. I fear noting,” he underlined. In addition, a resident of Roche-Bois, accompanied by lawyer Akil Bissessur, also filed a complaint against the Vice Prime Minister at the CCID.

Xavier-Luc Duval’s next PNQ on Soodhun

The leader of the opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, stated on his Facebook page that his next Private Notice Question will focus on the controversial comments made by Showkutally Soodhun. “Soodhun cannot stay another day as a Minister of the Republic of Mauritius and a member of parliament... his racist remarks further tarnish the MSM of which he is the President ... I will be the people’s voice during my PNQ on Tuesday,” he wrote.

Following his statement on the social network, Xavier-Luc Duval was sought for comments by Radio Plus. “Enough is enough; Soodhun must go as soon as possible. It is absolutely unbelievable that Soodhun is still a minister in the government, in addition to being the Minister of Lands and Housing. It is for this reason that I submitted my notice that in the event that he is still in his post, the PNQ will be focused on the revocation of Showkutally Soodhun,” he declared on Radio Plus.

The leader of the Opposition also believes that the Vice Prime Minister has insulted a major portion of the Mauritian population. “Minister Soodhun went against the Equal Opportunities Act. There must be sanctions at the political and legal levels against the Minister,” he argued.