The President of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Sarju Prasad says the issue of domestic violence will be on top of the agenda during a meeting of all national council members of the Sabha on the 22nd of this month.

He says domestic violence is not just an issue for the Hindus or the Sanatani, it is an issue for the entire country and all religious leaders of all faiths to take this matter very seriously.

Prasad says all religious leaders are in a position to be able to instil the message of peace and it is their duty to inform people but people are just not listening.

Prasad also says it is wrong that people sometimes feel that they are to be blamed for the violence that they face.

He says men should hold their anger and be patient so that they do not get flared up with small things.

Prasad says it is also the duty of the victims to protect themselves from those perpetrators by trying to either keep away or not to enter in an argument with people but the responsibility, he says, is with the perpetrators who assault their victims.

He says the Ramayan depicts Lord Ram as a responsible and exemplary husband and this is what men should practice.

When Fijivillage raised concerns that domestic violence and victim blaming is not being discussed during the weekly Ramayan functions, Prasad said that in light of these concerns he will discuss this matter in detail in the meeting this month.

ADVERTISEMENT