Administrator praful patel is facing vociferous protest for his policies for Lakshadweep.His decisions are facing heavy criticism from opposition .Patel was elected as governor five months ago for Lakshadweep a UT.He had also worked closely with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat. Actually, 99% population in Lakshadweep is of Muslims.
Despite this, the decision to put a ban on selling and buying of beef has been made.Additionally,a law made by Praful making those candidates with more than 2 children ineligible to contest panchayat elections is also being opposed strongly.
One the many controversial proposals given by Praful Patel is Goonda Act,even though the crime rate in Lakshadweep is very low.There’s another proposal of making ammendments in Lakshadweep Development Authority.
Under these ammendments, additional powers will be given to the authorities for land acquisition for various development projects.Lakshadweep MP from the NCP Mohammed Faizal says that this will allow authority to acquire any land ignoring the owners.
The administrator is working in the interests of the corporates.97% of the UT’s population is of muslims yet ban has been placed on cattle slaughter and trade and this has lead to huge outcry.Notably, although Lakshadweep has lowest birthrate still a proposal is underway to disqualify those having more than 2kids in contesting panchayat elections.Desoite having lowest crime rate,PASA(Prevention of Anti Social Activities Act) has been introduced in January 2021.
Some MPs from Lakshadweep have written a letter to President Kovind against these Praful Patel’s these policies alleging that these policies are intended for destroying Lakshadweep’s culture and they are trying to ‘turn it into another Kashmir’.It’s also alleged in this letter that administrator’s decisions have lead to the rise in corona cases.
Significantly,not a single corona case was reported in Lakshadweep last year,but the covid data on 23 May suggests that more than 6k cases have been reported in the last 6 months.MPs also said that they are shocked that restrictions on the use of alcohol have been lifted and a ban has been placed on beef.
Notably,Patel has been appointed as an administrator here after the demise of Dineshwar Sharma in 2O20.Earlier IAS officers were appointed at this post.Appointing politicians as administrators was the Modi-led government’s departure from the earlier practice of appointing only civil servants.
His name cropped up in the suicide of Mohan Delkar, an independent MP from Dadra and Nagar Haveli, who named Patel, among others, in his 15-page purported suicide note.
Reached for comment, Patel said the Lakshadweep islands have not witnessed development in 70 years since Independence and his administration was only trying to develop it.