‘Save Lakshadweep’ Campaign Explained
A slew of proposals ranging from a ban on beef to disqualification of panchayat poll aspirants with more than two children, which form part of draft regulations for Lakshadweep cleared by its Administ
There are protests happening in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep over the last few days over a slew of laws that were passed by the island's administrator Praful Khoda Patel. People have started a 'Save Lakshadweep’ campaign, to protest against these reforms. A large section of Kerala, including celebrities, politicians, social media users, and the general public, have come out in support for the people of Lakshadweep and have supported the 'Save Lakshadweep campaign'
Here's a quick explainer to understand exactly what is the situation on the island.
Praful K Patel became administrator of Lakshadweep in December 2020. After taking charge, the first law he passed was the ‘Goonda Act’. People living on the island said that the law was undemocratic, as Lakshadweep rarely had any crimes and the prisons almost empty. Through the law citizens can be imprisoned with a trial. Also, the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), introduced in January 2021, gives the government power to detain a person without any public disclosure for a period of up to one year.
Another law that Patel passed was the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 (LDAR). This law gives the administrator powers to remove or relocate islanders from their property, for town planning or any developmental activity. The draft bill gives complete & unchecked powers to the government to directly interfere with an islander’s right to possess and retain their property.
Besides, Patel has also curtailed the power of the district panchayat in important areas such as Education, health, Fisheries, animal husbandry and all the powers are vested with the administrator alone. The government has said that those with more than 2 children will not be allowed to contest panchayat elections.
Lakshadweep island’s population is around 97 percent Muslim. The government has banned non vegetarian food in schools. In lakshadweep sea food is majorly consumed. The government has also passed the Animal Preservation Regulation, 2021 which will ban beef on the island. They are also starting to give liquor licenses to people and allow sale of alcoholic beverages. Till now alcohol was never sold on the island. Fishermen sheds were also demolished by the government saying they were illegal.
Patel has also made COVID protocols of Lakshadweep less strict. Earlier, if anyone wanted to enter the island they had to strictly quarantine for fourteen days. Only after that can they enter the island. But as per Patel’s revised norms, a RT-PCR negative certificate is enough to enter Lakshadweep. People are not happy with this as well. People of Kerala are unhappy over the laws as they are unconstitutional & anti-people. Kerala Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem on Sunday 24th May wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, requesting him to urgently call back Lakshadweep administrator and BJP leader Praful Khoda Patel. According to the people of the island all the new reforms passed by the administrator Praful Patel who is a close aide of PM Modi is trying to establish a Hindutva agenda on the island.
