The Kerala legislative assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Monday calling for the recall of Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel in response to the recent draught Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation(2021) and new rules that have sparked protests on the island.
The resolution was moved by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “The people of Lakshadweep are undergoing a difficult situation. Their culture and tradition are under threat following dictatorial measures being taken by the administrator ignoring local protests. Even their food habits and livelihood are under threat,” said the resolution. It also pointed out the island’s long-standing relations with the state and said the Sangh Parivar is making the island another laboratory and people of the country will not allow that to happen.
“People of the island are peace-loving. The administrator is taking many measures to alienate them. In the name of development, even their livelihood is threatened. Even coconut trees are painted with saffron colour in the name of beautification. This can’t be allowed at any cost,” it said. After his recall, all his controversial decisions should be withdrawn, it said.
Lakshadweep, an archipelago in the Arabian Sea, has been in the middle of a storm for the past two weeks after the administrator imposed new rules. After many Congress and CPI(M) MPs wrote to the President, alleging that administrator Patel, a former Gujarat home minister, was attempting to “saffronise the island by imposing many new rules inimical to island culture,” the issue made national headlines.
Meanwhile, the administration has refused to allow a delegation of Kerala legislators to visit the island, citing the Covid-19 protocol. On Sunday, supporters of the “Save Lakshadweep” campaign marked the day by painting their Facebook pages black.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has vehemently defended the new rules, claiming that vested interests were spreading false information. It stated that the administration was attempting to develop the island as a major tourist hub, similar to the Maldives, and that locals were supportive of the effort. However, this has failed to appease island party leaders, with many of them resigning in protest. A delegation from the party has arrived in Delhi to brief Home Minister Amit Shah on the situation on the ground.
In Delhi, BJP vice president AP Abdullah Kutty criticised the Kerala assembly move, saying it was not in good spirit and against the federal polity of the country. “The resolution is against the spirit of democracy and federalism,” he said.
