A sharp increase in attacks on Hindu temples in Fiji has coincided with a call by the Nationalist Party to stop the worship of non-Christian gods on indigenous owned land.
Two more temples were attacked in the Nausori area during the weekend after an earlier attack on another temple last Thursday.
The Fiji Sun quotes the Nationalist leader, Saula Telawa, as saying "God has cursed Fiji because the Native Lands Trust Board has failed to include a condition that no other gods shall be worshipped by unbelievers on their leases."
Mr Telawa says "the quicker Christian Fijians get rid of them from native lands, the quicker God will consider not cursing native Christian landowners."
He says if people of other races want to live in Fiji, they should convert to Christianity and stop worshipping other gods.
The general secretary of the Methodist Church, the Rev Ame Tugaue, says Mr Telawa should not make such comments "because God will deal with idol worshippers in his own way."
