Rejecting the application of 3 Congress MPs to visit Lakshadweep, the Union Territory’s administration said the decision has been taken as their entry can “disturb the peace” of the region, which has remained shaken since Praful Khoda Patel brought in half a dozen new laws termed discriminatory and downright wrong by the islanders.
The administration further said that as per a police report, the Congress parliamentarians’ presence in Lakshadweep might also trigger violent agitations, which it said was the opposition party’s tactic to disrupt the peace.
The order was passed after Congress MPs Hibi Eden, CR Rakesh Sharma and TN Prathapan sought permission to visit the island. They said their intention was to understand the issues being faced by islanders after the administration ruled new policies.
To this, the Lakshadweep additional district magistrate S Asker Ali in the order that political parties and leaders from the mainland are putting efforts to “instigate local people, political parties, activists, social workers and others” to create unrest. The Congress MPs entry into the island will certainly “disturb the calm, peaceful atmosphere”, he said, adding that hence, this is against the interest and will of the citizens, STs, public order and security of the UT.
People visiting Lakshadweep from the mainland can also stir up the covid cases, he further said.
With scores of people against the administrator Praful Patel, the Congress and Left MPs had approached the Kerala High Court earlier to allow them to visit the island. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan has been vocal of his thoughts against Patel and demanded for his removal. While citizens of several states are echoing his dismissal, there has been widespread protests in Kerala. The assembly here passed a unanimous resolution demanding the administrator’s removal and revoking the controversial orders of Patel.
Amid a black flag protest started to backlash the administrator, Praful Patel reached Lakshadweep on June 14th. Since his policies were announced, there has been a massive uproar across the nation, denouncing the laws and urging the court to dethrone him. The Kerala High Court, recently, placed some of his proposals on interim stay following a string of petitions against them.
Part of these appeals was the law banning chicken, beef and other meat inclusion in school menu and shutdown of dairy farms. Along with this, Patel brought in the Goonda Act that is being called extremely unnecessary, given that Lakshadweep has the lowest crime rate in the country. Islanders have also slammed the other laws that seem to target their rights and sheer existence in their homeland.
Joining the islanders are several people and political parties. The Congress, DMK, CPM, and others, along with dozens of members from the BJP in the island have revolted against the controversial policies.
