NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the central government over the issue of the appointment of Praful Patel, a BJP leader as the administrator of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
“Lakshadweep is India’s jewel in the ocean. The ignorant bigots in power are destroying it. I stand with the people of Lakshadweep,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi. According to the opposition parties like Congress and the Left, the Centre has set an unprecedented attempt by appointing a politician as the administrator of the union territory. Previously, the position used to be held by officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran on Wednesday said the state government wants to take all necessary steps to protect the interests of Lakshadweep people within the ambit of the law, in a manner that does not undermine the dignity of democracy. He further said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had conveyed to the Centre the sentiments of the people in the state who are standing with the people of the islands. “The Chief Minister conveyed the thinking and emotions of the people of Kerala in this issue to the Central government. The people of Kerala and the state government are with the people of Lakshadweep. The state government wants to take all necessary steps to protect their interests within the ambit of the law and in a manner that does not undermine the dignity of democracy,” Saseendran said.
Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the appointment of a new administrator in Lakshadweep and withdrawal of the orders passed by Praful Khoda Patel, the current administrator of the Union Territory.
Pawar said in his letter that “unwarranted and irrational decisions” taken by the Lakshadweep Administrator would lead to the destruction unique culture of Lakshadweep. “I fear that unwarranted and irrational decisions taken by the Lakshadweep Administrator would lead to the destruction of traditional means of livelihood and the unique culture of Lakshadweep. It has already resulted in huge unrest and protest,” he said in the letter.
“I would be happy if orders and decision taken by the incumbent Authority of Lakshadweep Administration are re-examined and necessary directions are passed to the Lakshadweep Administration to withdraw the unreasonable and unwarranted orders,” he added.
Pawar said a new administrator should be appointed who works in close co-operation with the people’s representatives and takes a holistic approach to work with the native people.