Revolt For Reforms in Lakshadweep

 

Amidst the ongoing political controversy surrounding reforms in Lakshadweep, scion of the Nehru-Gandhi Parivar Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to lecture the Modi government regarding secularism and went on to refer to them as ‘bigots’ for initiating certain governance reforms in the Union Territory.

In his tweet, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Lakshadweep is India’s jewel in the ocean, while the ignorant ‘bigots’ in power are destroying it. Rahul Gandhi said that he stood with the people of Lakshadweep, who are allegedly protesting against the reforms initiated by the Lakshadweep administration to bring in sweeping changes pertaining to the administration of the Union Territory.

Rahul Gandhi had also written a letter to the Prime Minister saying, “The proposed changes to regulations like Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation, the Lakshadweep Animals Preservation Regulation and lifting of restrictions on the sale of alcohol are a deliberate assault on the ‘cultural and religious fabric of the local community. “Under the guise of development and maintaining law and order in a low crime UT, the draconian regulations penalise dissent and undermine grassroots democracy,” Rahul Gandhi wrote in a letter to PM Modi  recently.

The Congress party had even filed a petition in the Kerala High Court seeking a stay on the reforms initiated by the Central government.

However, in a big setback to the Congress party, the Kerala High Court on Friday refused to stay the reforms by categorically stating that it was just a policy issue. Essentially, the Kerala High Court dismissed the ‘religious and cultural’ bogey that is being aggressively peddled by Congress leaders and its ecosystem, including Rahul Gandhi.

 New Reforms for Lakshadweep are facing Motivated Oppositions but ‘Perform to Reform’ being the strong will power of the present Modi Government, we hope that Lakhad-Weep will become Lakshad – Joy. Till now, Lakshadweep had not being looked as part of Bharat – something like erstwhile Kashmir under Article 370. Operation Lakshadweep by Modi Government with Development Schemes will do the liberation of the region and the people residing there will be much benefitted. But the path is strewn with dangerous and multifarious hurdles to be crossed to achieve the goal. Holds by Muslim Clerics need to be tackled to win over the confidence of poor local Muslim population.

Modi’s Government wanted to implement reforms in Lakshadweep for the welfare of the residents, but, the vested interests – mostly of Muslims of Kochi Origin were protesting the reforms measures announced by Lakshadweep Administrator, Praful Khoda Patel.

Lakshadweep Collector S Asker Ali  addressed the media persons at Kochi where he said: “Misinformation campaign has been unleashed by vested interests against the Lakshadweep administration’s efforts to bring in reforms and ensuring the future and well-being of the people.”

The following reforms were said to be implemented:

1. To make Lakshadweep into a region for tourism, activities were undertaken to provide more facilities to tourists which had necessitated the decision to lift the liquor ban.

2. The Connectivity established with the New Mangaluru Port will be more beneficial for the people of island.

3. A modern School at Kavaratti and New Hospitals   at Kavaratti, Minicoy and Agatti will be beneficial for locals.

4. Steps will be taken to improve the internet connectivity through the submarine optical fibre cable network.

5. Agaatti airport is being modernized.

Decision to ban beef in mid-day meal of school children and removal of sheds in seashore and invocation of Goondas Act and ban on contesting polls to those having more than 2 children were raised as issues by the opponents.

The Collector had clarified the issues as under:

1. Beef Ban in Mid-day meal: Due to shortage, the food items available in the local market such as fish and eggs are being included more in the menu. Further this change of food menu will boost local fishing in the islands thus helping fishermen to boost their income.

2. The sheds of fishermen were removed as part of stopping all illegal encroachments on the seashores.

3. On invoking Goondas Act, strict rules were implemented considering the rising number of criminal cases. There are drug cases and POSCO cases and some residents are even involved in drug trafficking. There are also reports of anti-social activities and there is a need to regulate such crimes. The instance of seizing 300 cases of heroin and AK 47 rifles worth ₹3,000 crore from the nearby island in Lakshadweep were the reasons to invoke such act to make the Island a Paradise for Locals and Tourists and also for developers.

In this context, it is pertinent to recapture the inability of the United Progressive Alliance-led government to install a statue of MK Gandhi at Kavaratii in Lakshadweep during 2010– all because of local Muslims’ objections for the installation.

The installation of the statue of Gandhi in Kavaratti was opposed by the local Muslims saying installation of such idols and statues would hurt sentiments of the community.

The local Muslims – Muslim’s population was 98%  of the total population of the union territory - believe that if such a statute is once installed, then they will have to pay respects to it by decorating it with flowers, which according to them, is a part of Hindutva and violates the Sharia law.  It is worth mentioning that idolatry or worshipping any statues is forbidden in Islam. As Islam is a monotheistic religion, worship or paying respects to statues is considered a “shirk” or a sin.

Actually, a Rs.2 lakh statue of MK Gandhi sent to Lakshadweep in the vessel MV Amindivi to be installed in October 2010 at Kavarati could not be offloaded due to Local Muslims agitation, but, the statue was again sent back to Kavaratii – but, the statue is said to be lying there without being installed as planned. Perhaps Modi Government could install the statue on the coming Gandhi Jayanti day of October 2, 2021 – after lapse of 11 years due to incompetence of UPA Government.

This was due to Congress Appeasement Policy of Pseudo Secularism exposing its utter surrender to religious minorities pressures which had caused defeat in Amethi and victory in Wayanad !   THINK    INDIA    THINK.