Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given an assurance that the new draft laws for Lakshadweep that are being opposed by the islanders will not be finalised without consulting local representatives, Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal said on Monday.
NCP MP Faizal told reporters that he apprised the Home Minister of the strong opposition to the draft laws proposed by the new administrator Praful Patel. He said he also told Shah about the widespread protests on the islands.
“He has assured us that whatever laws that are under the consideration, they will be sent to Lakshadweep where they will be consulted with the local representatives in the district panchayat. People’s consent will be taken into consideration before they are finalised,” Faizal said.
According to a PTI report, Two time parliamentarian also sought removal of the administrator of the Union Territory.
He said his party president Sharad Pawar had also sought a meeting with Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue.
Lakshadweep newly-appointed administrator Patel’s recent decisions and draconian regulations have caused discontent in the Muslim-majority islands.
He has been accused of implementing Goonda Act in a place where least number of violent crimes reported in the country, banning beef products in a place the meat is widely consumed, demolishing fishermen’s sheds in coastal areas for violating the Coast Guard Act and revoking restrictions on the consumption of alcohol.
The former Gujarat BJP Minister of State for Home Praful Patel said to be very close to the Prime Minister’s office, RSS and BJP leadership.
Congress, NCP, CPIM, Muslim League and some other opposition parties have accused the Lakshadweep administration of “destroying peace and culture” of the islands. Island’s MP Mohammed Faizal, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin have demanded that Patel be recalled from the island chain.
