Kerala Assembly passes resolution demanding recall of Lakshadweep administrator

The Kerala Assembly Monday passed a bipartisan resolution extending solidarity to the people of Lakshadweep and demanding the recall of administrator Praful K Patel over some of his controversial proposals that have angered local sentiments.

Legislators of both, the LDF and UDF camps, voted in favour of the resolution, even though a few amendments were moved.

The BJP state unit, which has endorsed the decisions of the Lakshadweep Administrator, doesn’t have a member in the Assembly.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while tabling the resolution, slammed attempts of the UT administration to “impose a saffron agenda and corporate interests” through some of its decisions.

“It started with painting saffron colour on the coconut trees and it has now grown to an extent that would destroy their habitat, life and natural relationships. Banners put up on the island against the Citizenship Amendment Bill were removed and those who wrote it were arrested in Lakshadweep,” the CM said in his address.

Vijayan criticised the decision to bring in the Goonda Act in a place recording a low crime rate, destroy sheds which fishermen on the island used to store their boats and nets, implement the ‘Sangh Parivar agenda’ of banning cow slaughter and abolish all existing democratic systems on the islands through the transfer of powers of the district panchayat and the village dweep panchayat to the administrator.

“They have also brought out a bizarre order related to elections. The attitude that those with more than two children should not contest in the panchayat elections is unheard of in our country. They are trying to implement that as well. As a result, the vast majority of the islanders will lose their democratic rights,” the CM said.

He also censured in strong words attempts being made by the administrator to break historically long ties between Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands.

“The activities taking place in Lakshadweep today should be seen as a practical lab of the Sangh Parivar agenda. They are trying to change the culture, language, way of life and food of the people in a way that suits them,” he added.

Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan said, “They have come out with an arrogant stand that they will decide what food we can eat. They have unilaterally decided to shift the movement of freight between the islands and Beypore to Mangalore. They have decided to relax rules on liquor supply in a place where prohibition was being adhered to. These decisions signify the arrogance of an administration which thinks it can do anything by swatting aside democratic and constitutional principles.”

However, BJP state president K Surendran criticised the resolution, calling it ‘laughable.’ “It is clear from this resolution that the floor of the Assembly is being misused for political gains. The Assembly is being made fun of through such immature decisions,” he said.

Over the past few weeks, both on the ground in Lakshadweep and on social media platforms, there has been intense public anger over Patel’s decisions. A #SaveLakshadweep campaign is trending on social media.