The Lakshadweep administration’s move to bring reforms to the islands has invited sharp criticism from Congress and the Left parties. While the Union Territory Administration has stated that Administrator Patel’s proposals are aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of residents as well as promoting the islands as a tourist destination comparable to the Maldives, opposition parties have taken advantage of the opportunity to promote their own agenda which will be inimical to national interest. Some of the misinformation spread by opposition parties, celebrities with vested interests, and media outlets must be debunked here.
Cow Slaughter and Beef
PROPOSAL: An order from the Administration seeks to ban the slaughter of cow, calf, bull, and buffalo without a certificate from a competent authority. It prohibits the sale, transport, and storage of beef and beef products. Penalties include a jail term of up to one year and a fine of ₹10,000.
PROTEST: Residents view the rule as a direct infringement on their culture and eating habits.
TRUTH: According to the authorities, cows and cattle for meat are limited on the islands, with a population of little more than 1,200. Therefore, the government needs to protect it for breeding and agricultural activities. The government also clarified that these regulations will not be applicable to animals – other than a cow, bull, or bullock – being slaughtered for religious purposes.
BJP’s national vice-president A.P. Abdullakutty and several other leaders clarified that the objective is to protect the milch animals and has nothing to do with Lakshadweep being a Muslim-majority island and their religious beliefs.
Lakshadweep collector S Asker Ali said that only those associated with its illegal business and those who have personal interests are making a hue and cry against this legislation. He added that the decision to remove meat from the mid-day meal scheme is to include fish that is readily available on the island, which will benefit local fishermen by providing a quick market for their harvest.
Two-child policy
PROPOSAL: Under the Draft Panchayat Regulation 2021, the Administration aims to bar people with more than two children from becoming a member of the gram panchayat.
PROTEST: Locals are protesting this motive saying that it infringes on their political rights.
TRUTH: The government has clarified that the objective of the proposed law is to control the population. The law states that for those who already have more than two children, the regulation does not disqualify them provided they do not have further children after the date on which the rule comes into effect. This legislation is already in place in states like Andhra, Odhissa, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
Serving Liquor To Tourists
PROPOSAL: The Administration has decided to allow liquor to be served at resorts on inhabited islands.
PROTEST: Residents are protesting against this as Islam forbids alcohol. They say that the move will lead to a proliferation of liquor sales on the island, which had been observing near-prohibition until now.
TRUTH: Collector S Asker Ali clarified that liquor permits would be given only to resorts for tourists, not for locals. He also stated that liquor is already available at the resorts on the uninhabited island of Bangaram.
Land Acquisition Powers
PROPOSAL: The Administration brought in a draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR) to oversee the development of towns on the islands, with sweeping changes in the way land can be acquired and utilized.
PROTEST: They fear large infrastructure and tourism projects can destabilize the ecology, and that the notification gives powers to the Administration to remove small landholdings of ST residents.
TRUTH: The government has stated that it intends to make Lakshadweep the next Maldives of India, which will necessitate a number of development projects such as road, airport, and power production facility expansion. The administration wants visitors from all over the world to come to Lakshadweep, which will increase employment opportunities and raise the standard of living for inhabitants. The lagoons have been devastated by the diesel generators that have been utilized on the island for decades, according to Island Administrator Praful Patel. He added that the new legislation will enable to build of new solar and wind power plants.
The Lakshadweep administration is also developing three water villa projects in Minicoy, Kadmat, and Suheli in collaboration with NITI Aayog on the lines of Maldives. Work will start in August. The Agatti airstrip is being expanded so that Boeing and Airbus planes can land here.
Also, as there are inadequate facilities for higher education, the administration has taken the initiative to set up a nursing college and paramedical college in Kavaratti and a polytechnic college in Minicoy.
Anti-Goonda Regulation
PROPOSAL: The draft Lakshadweep Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation provides for powers to detain a person for up to one year to prevent him from “acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order”. It allows for detention for anti-social activities from six months to a year without legal representation.
PROTEST: Residents are skeptical of the need for such stringent law in a Union Territory with one of the lowest crime rates in the country. They allege it has been brought in to arrest those opposed to the Administration.
TRUTH: According to Collector S Asker Ali, while the island remains peaceful, there have been complaints of narcotics, weapons, and live ammo being seized. He said the regulation is required to keep the “youth from getting misguided by illegal businesses”
Reports added that 300 kg of heroin worth ₹3,000 crore, five AK-47s, and 1,000 live rounds were confiscated from a boat near Minicoy islands a few weeks ago and several cases of marijuana and liquor smuggling have been filed too.
Covid-19 SOPs
PROPOSAL: Lakshadweep did not record any case of COVID-19 in the first wave. However, Last December, Covid-19 SOPs were diluted by doing away with mandatory quarantine for travelers at Kochi and Kavaratti. Instead, anyone with a negative RT-PCR certificate issued in the previous 48 hours could travel to Lakshadweep.
PROTEST: The change led to the island losing its ‘green zone’ tag and a spurt in infections in subsequent months. Islanders blame the Administration for mismanagement in the handling of the pandemic.
Truth: Ahead of Ramadan, the islanders visited Kerala for shopping, and Kerala was one of the worst affected states during the second wave, which led to a rise in the number of cases in Lakshadweep. However, since the administration made proactive steps to control COVID infections, the number of cases has decreased, and approximately 75% of the population has been vaccinated.
Secular parties’ appeasement policies to woo Muslims have always resulted in retrograde outcomes, and this time is no exception. Opposition parties’ and other vested interests in the islands are carrying out an organized misinformation campaign to block reforms in Lakshadweep would not help the people of Lakshadweep.
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