'Recall Lakshadweep Administrator; Cancel Proposed Regulations' : Kerala Assembly Passes Unanimous Resolution

Expressing solidarity with the people of Lakshadweep, the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a unanimous resolution demanding the recall of administrator Praful Khoda Patel and the cancellation of his proposed regulations, which are facing stiff opposition from the island residents.

The 140-member assembly has called for urgent intervention by the Central Government to protect the means of livelihood and the cultural uniqueness of the archipelago located in the Arabian sea.

The resolution, which was introduced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was backed by the opposition-UDF, stated that Lakshadweep and Kerala has centuries of cultural ties and that the inhabitants of the island are relying on Kerala for their educational, health and commercial needs.

It is further stated that under the garb of developing tourism sector, the administrator has proposed a slew of reforms, which constitute an onslaught on the indigenous life-style and cultural heritage of the Lakshadweep inhabitants. Further, such regulations, which are attempted to be thrust on the inhabitants, have the potential to wreck their means of livelihood and throw their normal lives out of track.

The Regulations which vest unbridled powers on the Development Authority to forcible acquire the properties of people have caused widespread concerns. Also, the Regulations have led to the termination of the employment of several persons.

The Assembly stressed in the resolution that "unity in diversity" is an important facet of the Indian culture. It is said in the Resolution that there have been organized attempts in other parts of the country to efface cultural diversities. Reference is made to the bifurcation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and reduction of its status as a Union Territory, after taking away its special status. The enactment of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act - which introduced a religion based criteria for grant of citizenship to refugees- was cited as another example.

In other parts of the world, there are examples of people being 'orphaned' in their own lands. Seen in this historical backdrop, there are anxieties about the future of Lakshadweep.

"The attacks on the cultural uniqueness valued by a people are being carried out in a manner which surpass even the acts of colonial regimes. Such acts are wholly inconsistent with a democratic culture, which has diversity as one of its facets.  Therefore, every person who upholds values of constitutional morality, must register strong protest against the actions of the Lakshadweep administrator", the resolution reads.

Few island inhabitants have filed writ petitions in the Kerala High Court against the implementation of the regulations proposed by the administrator.

Click here to read the text of resolution (in Malayalam)