Karela: Demanding the removal of new Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel, the Kerala Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the current political unrest brewing in Lakshadweep.
The resolution, according to India Today, which has been moved against a series of measures adopted by the Lakshadweep administrator, states that “In the name of promoting tourism, the culture and essence of Lakshadweep itself is being negated.”
It adds that the people of the Union territory are themselves raising concerns over attempts to “encroach upon their cultural and specific features”.
The resolution tabled by CM Vijayan states that the Lakshadweep administration is “officially sabotaging the basic responsibility of protecting the lives of people”.
Claiming that the atrocities being committed in Lakshadweep are worse than during colonial rule, the Kerala CM has urged the Centre to ensure that the interests of the people of the UT are protected.
While presenting the resolution in the assembly, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that the GoI is “trying to implement saffron agenda and corporate interests in Lakshadweep”.
“It began with painting coconut tress saffron and now it has reached a stage where the livelihood, culture of the people is being affected,” he was quoted as saying.
The report said that this is the first-ever resolution that has been moved in the House after the second Vijayan government came to power achieving a resounding victory in the April 6 Assembly polls.
Last week, the ruling LDF government in Kerala came to the support of its ‘brothers’ in Lakshadweep, promising to move a resolution in the state Assembly on the matter.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said everyone has strong sentiments over this issue because the people of Lakshadweep are “our brothers.” The party hoped it would receive unanimous support on the resolution.
The CPI(M) mouthpiece People’s Democracy had previously said that in Muslim majority Lakshadweep, Pradul Patel’s policies reveal “shades of the Kashmir experience” but the “real model” being pursued is the “Gujarat one.”
“In a Muslim majority territory, Patel’s policies reveal shades of the Kashmir experience, but the real model being pursued is the Gujarat one-a developmental model destructive of the environment, the imposition of Hindutva values on a minority community, the ruthless suppression of dissent and a callous disregard for human life during a pandemic,” it said.
Opposition parties in Lakshadweep and Kerala are up in arms against various measures initiated by the Administrator of the group of islands, terming them as “anti-people” and have sought his recall.
Several political leaders have urged the GoI to recall Praful Khoda Patel, Administrator of India’s smallest union territory.
It has been alleged that Patel unilaterally lifted restrictions on the use of alcohol in the Muslim-majority islands, banned beef products, citing Animal Preservation and demolished fishermen’s sheds built on the coastal areas, saying they violated the Coast Guard Act.
In its defence, the Lakshadweep administration said it was laying the foundation for the future of islands in a planned way and to develop it on the lines of Maldives in two decades.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court sought the response of the Central government on a PIL challenging the Lakshadweep administration’s move to introduce Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 (LDAR) and the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) in the islands.
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