Thiruvananthapuram: Expressing solidarity with the people of Lakshadweep, the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution demanding the recall of island administrator Praful Khoda Patel and requesting the immediate intervention of the Centre to protect the lives and livelihood of the islanders. With this, Kerala has become the first state in the country to come up with a resolution to support the people of the Union Territory over the recent developments.
An archipelago located in the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep is witnessing protests by local people for some days over the recent actions and administrative reforms being implemented by Patel. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan moved the government resolution, the first such motion in the 15th state Assembly, reminiscing about the historic and cultural bond between Kerala and Lakshadweep and criticising the Centre for allegedly trying to destroy the natural democracy there.
Stating that the future of Lakshadweep is a matter of concern, he said any attempt to undermine its unique culture and indigenous lifestyle is unacceptable. Anyone who upholds constitutional values should register a strong disagreement against the actions of the administrator of Lakshadweep, the chief minister urged.
Setting aside their political differences, members of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and the Congress-headed United Democratic Front unanimously backed the resolution, except some amendments suggested by the latter. The hard-hitting resolution alleged that attempts were being made to impose “saffron agendas” and “corporate interests” by destroying the unique way of life of Lakshadweep people.
The implementation of the agenda, rolled out in the name of reforms, began with painting coconut trees with saffron colour and has now grown to the level of destroying the traditional habitat, life and natural relationships of the island dwellers, it alleged. Steps have been taken to bring in the Goondas Act in the islands, where the crime rate is exceptionally low, it said, adding that such measures were in anticipation of any protests and to silence any voice of dissent.
“A dictatorial system of governance is being developed through these measures,” it said. Pointing out that the authorities also aimed at destroying their traditional livelihood of fishing, the resolution said sheds where the fishermen’s boats and nets are kept have been “rampantly destroyed.” Through the attempt to exclude beef, which is part of the natural diet of the people of the territory, the Sangh Parivar agenda of banning cow slaughter was being implemented throughthe back door, it alleged.
Thus, the administrator has now taken the lead in ‘annihilating’ the indigenous life and culture of the peopleof a territory inch by inch, the brief resolution further charged. Criticising the Centre’s act of giving the administrator special powers to intervene into the affairs of various government departments, Vijayan said it amounted toundermining the island’s natural democracy by deploying officials of their choice.
Steps are being taken to abolish all existing democratic systems in the Union Territory and impose bureaucratic domination there, he said. The attitude that those with more than two children should not contest in panchayat elections is unheard of in the country, he said, adding that with its implementation,the vast majority of the islanders would lose their democratic rights.
“The recent developments in Lakshadweep should be seen as a practical laboratory of the Sangh Parivar agenda. They are attempting to change the culture, language, lifestyle and foodhabits of people of the country in tune with their ideology,”the Chief Minister alleged. They are also taking steps to disrupt the livelihood of the people and give a red carpet welcome to the corporates, he charged.
Strong resistance should be raised against this bid to enslave people of a territory to “corporate interests and Hindutva politics”, he said. Stating that the Central Government has the responsibility to ensure that the unique characteristics of the Union Territory and the native people are well-preserved, the Left veteran said the administrator, who posed a challenge to this, should be stripped of his responsibilities.
Opposition Congress leader V D Satheesan backed the resolution and said the agenda, being implemented by Patel under the garb of reforms, should be thrown in the Arabian Sea. The Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) urged the government to directly criticise the BJP-NDA government at the Centre in the resolution.
Meanwhile, BJP state chief K Surendran slammed the resolution adopted by the Assembly against the Central Government appointed administrator and said the House had no authority to do so. Terming the government action to come up with the resolution as “ridiculous”, he said the House was being misused for political purposes.
It was not right to use the floor of the House for political gains, Surendran said, adding that if the people of Lakshadweep had any complaint, they could approach either the Union government or the court. The BJP has no member in the present state Assembly as it had lost its lone Nemom seat to ruling CPI(M) during the 6 April Assembly polls.