Minister for Finance, National Planning, Public Enterprise, and Sugar Industry Mahendra Pal Chaudhry of Fiji

Chaudhry is also co-chair of the task force focusing on economic growth within the National Council for Building a Better Fiji.

Chaudhry was born in Ba but educated at Tavua Indian School and Shri Vivekanand High School.

In 2004, Chaudhry received the Pravasi Bharatiya Community Service Award, which is granted to members of the Indian diaspora to honour their contributions to the countries of which they are members.

Chaudhry remained active in the Labour Party, and assumed leadership of the party in 1991 from Adi Kuini Bavadra, widow of Timoci Bavadra who had died in 1989.

Chaudhry has since rebuilt the Labour Party, which won several key by-elections throughout 2004.

Following the December 2006 coup that ousted Qarase, Chaudhry accepted the post of Minister of Finance in the interim government formed under Frank Bainimarama in January 2007.

Chaudhry is known for his combative style of leadership, which has won him both admirers and enemies.

Since May and June 2005, Chaudhry has been at the forefront of a campaign against the government's controversial Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which proposes to establish a Commission with the power, subject to presidential approval, to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the 2000 coup.

Chaudhry has also spoken in favour of bringing more ethnic Fijians into the economic mainstream.

Chaudhry has periodically called for Fiji's electoral system to be reformed.

In 1978, Chaudhry was convicted of manslaughter for his involvement in a fatal automobile accident.

Prime Minister Qarase had earlier alleged on 5 December that Chaudhry had been a party to the negotiations, and called on the FLP to reveal whether it was involved with Singh's compensation claim.

Chaudhry was ordered to pay F$750 to Qarase and Fiji Television Limited to cover court costs.

Chaudhry had failed, Gates said, to provide "credible evidence" that Qarase's words were untruthful, and therefore there was no grounds to prohibit their publication.

Chaudhry said most of the inflation was imported and by the end of this year it was anticipated to have fallen from the current seven to four per cent.

As I said most of this is imported, some of it is from high fuel prices but this is a global phenomenon, many countries have inflation rates between six to seven percent and maybe higher but yes it is important to see that inflation does not get out of hand,” Chaudhry said in a statement.

Chaudhry said appropriate measures had been put in place to control inflation.

Mr Chaudhry knows that the very same cane farmers who are his power base would turn on him quicker than he can blink his eyes if they found out that Chaudhry held $1.

So Chaudhry turned to another story.

It is well known that Mr Chaudhry had travelled to India in February 2001 and a report carried by an Indian Newspaper states that Mr Chaudhry was to meet Om Prakash Chautala, the Chief Minister of Haryana on February 28.

This proves one thing beyond any doubt: At least one person whose surname starts with a C, likes to dip his hand into the cookie jar when no one is looking, either Chautala or Chaudhry is not telling the whole truth.

Where is this money going to?The Inquiry was a whitewash as by carefully manipulating the Terms of Reference to only look at the tax affairs, MP Chaudhry was cleared.

Mr Chaudhry is no doubt, not only the richest politician in Fiji but one of the richest man in Fiji.

MP Chaudhry is the Mugabe of Fiji.

invited directly by the prime ministers.

last year's elections while Kubuabola's SVT Party won eight "miserable" seats.

Kubuabola, who should be investigated for treason.

Stating that more than 3,000 Indian tourists visited Fiji in 2006-07 and the numbers would increase this year, Mr Chaudhry said Fiji was inviting Indian investors to set up hotels by providing them all facilities, including incentives.

Mahendra Chaudhry was key founder of the Labour Party, with Bavadra, while serving as general secretary of the National Farmers Union.

Chaudhry had been a unionist since the early '60s, and had a reputation as a militant.

Chaudhry was elected to Parliament in April 1987 and was appointed Minister for Finance in the coalition government of FLP leader, Timoci Bavadra.

Chaudhry remained active in the Labour Party and in 1991 succeeded as leader, Adi Kuini Bavadra, widow of Dr Bavadra.

Chaudhry said that Fiji-China relations have witnessed significant developments since the two countries established diplomatic ties.

Chaudhry said that this position will not change.

After 56 days in captivity, Chaudhry was released and subsequently toured the world attempting to rally support for his deposed government.

Chaudhry said the Fijian Labour Party will continue to adhere to one-China policy.

The “Report of Independent Inquiry into the taxation affairs of Mahendra Pal Chaudhry” was prepared by the team that was hastily cobbled together after I disclosed in the Fiji Sun in February 2008 that Chaudhry had been hiding $2million in a secret bank account in Sydney, Australia, and that he had made late lodgement of his 2001, 2002, and 2003 tax returns.

On August 14, a Suva chartered accountancy firm wrote to FIRCA, notifying it that Chaudhry had appointed the firm to act as his tax agent.

It is instructive to recall that FIRCA and Chaudhry had repeatedly taken shelter behind the confidentiality clause in Section 4 of the Tax Act but as I have argued, the Act does not give the taxpayer the luxury and freedom to hide millions from the nation.

On 26 September 2000, Chaudhry had opened an account with ANZ bank in NZ, three months after he was released by George Speight from Parliament.

Chaudhry received interest income of $NZ23,274.

The exact amount of funds Chaudhry had in the bank there is not known, but according to forensic accountants, working backwards from the interest he received it was probably $300,000 to $400,000, raising the question of the original source of the New Zealand funds.

It is time for Fiji’s lawmaker Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to confront Chaudhry’s bluff and bluster while the FLP leader is going around the country preaching about the People’s Charter.

We all know that Chaudhry is a master of guises and is spinning his web right under everyones noses.

Fiji’s former interim finance minister, Mahendra Chaudhry remains banned from traveling to New Zealand despite quitting his job last month.

Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is the leader of the Fiji Labour Party.

Mr Chaudhry is familiar with coups … his Labour Government was overthrown by George Speight in 2000, and he was also part of the government which was ousted in the first Fijian coup in 1987.

After 56 days in captivity, Chaudhry was released on 13 July and subsequently embarked on a tour of the world to rally support.

Early life, education and early career Mahendra Chaudhry was born in BaBa District, Fiji Ba is a district situation on the North Western part of the island of Viti Levu in Fiji.

Their elder son, Krishn Gopal Chaudhry remained in Fiji.

Chaudhry has been married to Virmati since 1965; they have three children and several grandchildren.

Chaudhry is an Indo-Fijian lawyer, former civil servant, and potential parliamentary candidate.

In 2004, Chaudhry received the Pravasi Bharatiya Community Service AwardPravasi Bharatiya Community Service Award The Pravasi Bharatiya Community Service Award is an honour granted annually by the Global Organisation of People of Indian O.

Chaudhry was the first Fijian citizen to receive this award.

Leader of Labour Party from 1991 Mahendra Chaudhry remained active in the Labour Party, and assumed leadership of the party in 1991 from Adi Kuini BavadraKuini Speed SummaryAdi Kuini Teimumu Vuikaba Speed was a Fijian chief and politician, who served as Deputy Prime Minister in 1999 and 2000.

Chaudhry was duly appointed Prime Minister on 19 May 1999.

Internal dissent Chaudhry was criticised by some prominent members of the FLP, which included Krishna Dutt and Poseci Bune, for finalising his list of Senate nominees without consulting the Party.

Chaudhry's views and policies Chaudhry is known for his combative style of leadership, which has won him both admirers and enemies.

Brain drain Chaudhry has expressed alarm at the high rate of emigration from Fiji, especially of Fiji-Indians, and also of educated indigenous Fijians.

Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill Since May and June 2005, Chaudhry has been at the forefront of a campaign against the government's controversial Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which proposes to establish a Commission with the power, subject to presidential approval, to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the 2000 coup.

Bringing Fijians into the mainstream Chaudhry has also spoken in favour of bringing more ethnic Fijians into the economic mainstream.

Calls for electoral reform Chaudhry has periodically called for Fiji's electoral systemto be reformed.

Gays rights Chaudhry said on 18 October 2005 that he and the FLP would not support Prime Minister Qarase's attempts to close constitutional loopholes that undermine Fiji's anti-gay laws.

Chaudhry said that gays rights were guaranteed by the constitution and must be upheld; the Prime Minister, who needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament to change the constitution, was just wasting his time trying to gain FLP support for the measure, he said.

Controversies Chaudhry has been involved in a number of controversial circumstances over the years, ranging from a manslaughter conviction in 1978 to allegations of misuse of funds as recently as 2005.

Manslaughter conviction In 1978, Chaudhry was convicted of manslaughterManslaughter The law generally differentiates between levels of criminal culpability based on the mens rea, or state of mind.

Addressing the House of Representatives on 23 November 2005, Prime Minister Qarase alleged that Chaudhry had had money raised for him in the Indian state of Haryana, and called on Chaudhry to reveal what had happened to the money since.

Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is as Indian, and Haryanavi, as Sonia Gandhi is Italian.

Even though Mahendra Pal Chaudhry had not been to India since 1979, the feeling that he was `home' was real.

No matter which way it is looked at, Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijiian by nationality, but sentimentally an Indian.

Speaking to the Department of Information, Mr Chaudhry said that the measures that have been put in place in 2007 budget is bearing results and there is positive signs that the economy will recover.

In addition, Mr Chaudhry said during his trip to India he had fruitful talks with the officials of the Software Technology Park of India and there are plans of setting up an Information Technology (IT) park in Fiji as well.

Mr Chaudhry said that since the emergency regulations have been lifted and advisories have been down scaled, the tourism industry should pick up from the months of July.

Mr Chaudhry has said he won't comment on the man's claim in court.

Chaudhry had pleaded guilty to injuring a man he was staying with an iron rod.

After his acquittal Rajendra Chaudhry was blowing his own trumpet in the media.

But until his experience with FICAC, Rajendra Chaudhry had no consideration for the human rights and dignity of persons who became victims of the regime and its enforcement arms.

Chaudhry said the public had a right to accurate information but the media was withholding information in breach of media ethics.

The National Farmers Union, of which Chaudhry is the general secretary, had orchestrated a harvest boycott demanding a cash grant, which began with a demand for $2000 per farmer and ended with a $2 per tonne grant.

Of course the gullible farmers believed what Chaudhry was showing and telling them.

persuaded him to retreat into obscurity.

but the Government was toppled within a month by a coup by Gen.

Chaudhry said his client was labelled as a traitor to the indigenous community and this was then publicised by the newspaper.

Chaudhry has a pending $1 billion defamation case against The Fiji Times Ltd over a story the newspaper ran, claiming the Labour leader had millions of dollars stashed in foreign bank accounts.

and asked the government to take corrective action with regard to 22 complaints.

The fragile compromise collapsed when Timoci Bavada's Government—in which Indo-Fijians were in a majority and Chaudhry was one of the ministers—came to power in 1987.

Chaudhry was at the Valelevu Police Station today when the police took in the management and staff over the dispute.

Speight worked as general manager in an Indian company in Fiji and when his scam was exposed, Mahendra Chaudhry had him dismissed," said Mahavir Chaudhry who introduced himself as the deposed Fijian leader's brother-in-law.

president's daughter Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau has been taken hostage by Speight's thugs," Mahavir Chaudhry said angrily, trailing off into a stream of unprintables.

He said another allegation against Mahendra Chaudhry was that he was going to extend the lease of cultivable land to people of Indian origin, but "there is nothing wrong in that because these people are hard workers.

ratings show that the economy is on the mend.

Mr Chaudhry is expected to meet President K.