The story of Lakshadweep (Part-2)

 

The major reason for the stature at which Lakshadweep is currently in is due to the quality of administration carried out over the years. It is worth mentioning that there has never been a political administrator since the island's establishment as a Union Territory in 1973 until the 5th of December in 2020.

The constitutional form of the Lakshadweep is rather different from the other parts of the country in terms of the roles taken over by the individuals. One seat is allotted for the islands in the Parliament. There isn't a chief minister for Lakshadweep. The residents can vote and select only a panchayat leader to carry forward their issues to the administrators. Not to forget that only officers from the civil services used to administer Lakshadweep.

On the 5th of December in 2020, a major administrative change happened in Lakshadweep as a politician from Gujarat is appointed as the administrator due to the demise of the previous administrator.

The person appointed as the administrator is Mr.Praful Khodabai Patel, the man behind whom the controversies align. 

During his tenure, Praful has been appointed as the home minister of Gujarat (twice) in 2010 and the administrator of the union territories of Daman and Diu and Nagar and Haveli in 2016. He has been known for involving in controversial decisions which were evident when he was administrating Daman and Diu.

In 2016, he unnecessarily merged the two union territories of Daman and Diu and Nagar and Haveli together and became its first administrator. Following that he has been appointed as the administrator of the Lakshadweep islands.

Lakshadweep hasn't been spared from his controversial decisions. With no prior preparations, several restrictions have been imposed on the people and are forced to amend by the law.

To start with, non-vegetarian food has been banned in school midday meals and other dining facilities. In a land where the majority of the population follow Islam, how fair it is to alter their traditional food habits just because it is against his party's agenda. Not to forget that India exports a large quantity of beef and beef products.

Next, the restrictions on the availability of alcohol in the islands have been highly lifted claiming that it would promote their tourism. Now anyone has a free hand to sell alcohol at hotels and bars. (Seriously.............).

With regards to the land, the people of the Lakshadweep are going under serious scrutiny. The new regulation allows the government to use any form of land for mining and quarrying activities. To top it off, the new policies allow anyone from India to purchase lands in Lakshadweep which obviously would be bought by the corporates to establish their chain of restaurants.

While the whole world is going through tough times, he opened doors to anyone who tested negative in the RT-PCR test to visit the islands.  Lakshadweep which stayed covid-free until January 2021 currently has more than 7000 active cases.

Another democracy-crushing announcement is that the active politicians who have more than 2 kids are not allowed to contest in any form of elections. Also, the administration has removed all the huts built by the fishermen stating that it violates their Coastal regulation zone and Coast Gaurd Act.

Lakshadweep has been a crime-free zone since its establishment. The administration has introduced the "Goondas Act" claiming to enhance Law and Order. It has been implemented to eradicate anyone who opposes their ideology, the same intention behind the refusal of active politicians to contest in local body elections.

The Lakshadweep crisis is a clear example of the wrong leadership and the lack of patriotism. It is surprising how a government breaks all its ethics to benefit a few. Currently, the government claims that the aforementioned announcements are still in the pipeline and are to be implemented shortly. 

Having said that, the ruling party has a brief history of executing their plans upon a considered space come what may. Hence, it is certain that no plans of the administration are going to be changed unless something breaks out like the one in Marina. A small isolated place like Lakshadweep needs our attention and it is our duty not as an Indian but as a human being to raise our voices.

        Lakshadweep is weeping!

                                                     Speak about it!

                                                                             Do something if you can!!