New Delhi: Congress party, on Tuesday, sought a recall of Lakshadweep Administrator, Prafful Patel, calling him as "anti-people" and demanding an immediate withdrawal of the "draconian and authoritarian" orders drafted by him.
This comes amid the ongoing row due to the several contentious regulations introduced by Patel, former Gujarat Minister, including the Draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation, 2021. It would give power to the administrator to remove or relocate islanders from their property for town planning or any developmental activity.
Also, as per the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), a person can be detained without any public disclosure for up to one year. Another notification states that a panchayat member with more than two children will be disqualified.
While speaking over the matter, Congress General Secretary and senior spokesperson Ajay Maken said, "It is an attack over the Cultural heritage of Lakshadweep. We demand that Praful Patel should be immediately recalled and all the draconian and authoritarian draft orders issued by him should be withdrawn."
Recall the Lakshadweep administrator, Congress tells Center He explained, "It is an attack over the cultural heritage in such a way that you are opening the prohibition at a place where Crime Rate is already Lowest. By bringing this draconian law, people are being harassed, as basically you are trying to increase crime at that place. The local people themselves do not want that the prohibition would be removed."
Maken also raised the point that it has happened for the first time when a former Minister has been appointed as an Administrator instead of a Civil Servant.
"How can a former home minister be appointed as Administrator of Lakshadweep, who reports to the Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Before him, all the administrators, whether of Lakshadweep or of Dadar Nagar Haveli, were either retired or serving bureaucrats, who held the rank below the Joint Secretary Government of India," the Congress leader asserted.
Earlier today, the Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took down on Twitter, criticizing the Lakshadweep Administrator and accusing him of destroying the heritage of the islands by imposing new laws.
She stated, "The people of Lakshadweep deeply understand and honour the rich natural and cultural heritage of the islands they inhabit. They have always protected and nurtured it. The BJP government and its administration have no business to destroy this heritage, to harass the people of Lakshadweep, or to impose arbitrary restrictions and rules on them. Dialogue sustains democracy. Why can’t the people of Lakshadweep be consulted? Why can’t they be asked what they believe is good for them and for Lakshadweep?"
"How can someone who knows nothing about their heritage be allowed to use his power to destroy it? I extend my full support to the people of Lakshadweep. I will always stand by you and fight for your right to protect your heritage. It is a national treasure that we all cherish," Gandhi added.
