Pravind Jugnauth backs Menon Murday

The leader of the MSM party, major partner of the ruling governmental coalition, Pravind Jugnauth, took a stand against the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth (who happens to be his father). The Prime Minister previously rejected calls to appoint Menon Murday, former president of the Mauritius Tamil Temples Federation, as Vice-President of the Republic. The latter is an unreturned candidate (for constituency No 13) of the Lepep government coalition of which SAJ is the leader. “Maybe the Prime Minister was misinformed. It is wrong to say that (Menon Murday) is an attendant,” he said on Wednesday at a meeting of the MSM regional committee at Rivière-du-Poste. Pravind Jugnauth, who was largely expected to take over the PM position from his father, had to stand down earlier this year when he was found guilty of the technical offence of “conflict of interest” by the Intermediate Court following the MedPoint saga and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. The Prime Minister criticized Menon Murday on Sunday 6 December at MGI, in the wake of the controversy surrounding the choice of former judge Vidya Narayen as Vice-President of the Republic. He believes that the ex-president of the MTTF “does not have all the qualities required” for the top job. As a further twist to this saga, Vidya Narayen turned down the offer for the top job on Tuesday 8 December. The MSM leader said he is committed “to repair the damage caused to Menon Murday.” “I’m glad that he has not resigned from the MSM,” he added. Danielle Selvon not reinstated “MSM is not a shop. You can not come and go as you please. You need to think 10 times before quitting, or 50 times. It is not a joke,” declared Pravind Jugnauth at Rivière-du-Poste. Commenting on the resignation of Danielle Selvon, MP of constituency No. 1 [Port Louis West-Grande-Rivière-Northwest], of all MSM instances over the Good Governance and Integrity Reporting Bill, the political leader recalled that his party is based on discipline. He denies having reinstated Danielle Selvon. Pravind Jugnauth also talked about his appeal trial, due in January 2016 following his conviction in the MedPoint case. Jugnauth has described his sentence as “a hiccup” and is confident that he will win his appeal. “All the comrades know that I work hard on my [trial] appeal that will be heard in January 2016. I have retained the services of a foreign lawyer. She is more than ever convinced that there is nothing against me,” he said.