Under the draft regulations, the ban on the consumption of alcohol has been lifted from Lakshadweep. Apart from this, a ban has been ordered on beef products citing animal protection.
Kerala Forest Minister AK Sasindran. (Photo: ANI)
Kerala Forest Minister AK Sasindran said on Wednesday that the state government wants to take all necessary steps to protect the interests of the people of Lakshadweep within the ambit of the law, so that the dignity of democracy is not hurt. He further said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has made the Center aware of the feelings of the people of the state who are standing with the people of the islands. In fact, in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, the opposition is attacking the central government regarding the draft of the new regulation and is demanding the central government to withdraw the draft.
Shashindran said that the Chief Minister of the state has conveyed the thoughts and feelings of the people of Kerala to the Central Government on this issue. 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, which are within the scope of law and do not reduce the dignity of democracy. The minister said that the demand of an opposition MLA to pass a resolution on the Lakshadweep issue should be discussed by the Speaker and the Chief Minister.
He said, ‘Many political dimensions of this issue are yet to come. I can only tell what action will be taken after thorough investigation. Earlier on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition VD Satisan wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding the recall of Praful Patel, the newly appointed Administrator of Lakshadweep. Sateesan wrote in the letter, ‘After the appointment of a new administrator in the island, breaking the tradition of the post of IAS officers, the people of Lakshadweep are being subjected to many undemocratic measures against which there is a great outrage in the island.’ He further said that the new administrator has interfered in the powers of the district panchayat, the only representative body of the people.
‘The work being done to suppress the voice of the people’
The leader said, “In an island where there is a nominal violation of rules, the administrator has implemented the Gunda Act which we feel is meant to suppress the voice of the people.” He also mentioned that due to improper handling of COVID-19 epidemic, a health crisis has also arisen in the island. It is being said that under the draft regulations, the ban on the consumption of alcohol has been removed from Lakshadweep. Apart from this, a ban has been ordered on beef products citing animal protection. Majority of the population of Lakshadweep is dependent on fisheries, but opposition leaders allege that Praful Patel has ordered the fishermen’s huts to be broken in coastal areas on the basis of violation of the Coast Guard Act.
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