Huge Protests in Lakshadweep, Goonda Act

  • Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Khoda Patel is facing opposition from the people of the union territory and politicians — both from within Lakshadweep and neighbouring Kerala — over policies introduced by him since his appointment in December 2020.

PRAFUL KHODA PATEL

  • Praful Khoda Patel was made administrator of Lakshadweep in December 2020, after the death of former administrator Dineshwar Sharma. 
  • A former BJP leader, Patel was the minister of state for home in Gujarat, when Narendra Modi was the state’s chief minister. 
  • In addition to Lakshadweep, Patel also has the charge of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. 
  • The appointment a departure from the earlier practice of appointing only IAS officers to the post.

LDAR

  • The contentious regulations include the Draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 (LDAR).
  • It gives the administrator powers to remove or relocate islanders from their property, for town planning or any developmental activity.
  • It puts the onus on the owner to develop his holding as per the plan prepared by the authority. 
  • Heavy penalties in the event of non-compliance.
GOONDA ACT 
  • The Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) or GOONDA Act, was introduced in January 2021. 
  • Under this, a person can be detained without any public disclosure for a period of up to one year. 
OTHER POLICIES
  • The draft panchayat notification, where a member with more than two children is disqualified from being a member.
  • The ban on beef proposed under the draft Lakshadweep Animal Preservation Regulation has contributed to the unrest in the Union Territory.
  • This can be seen in the context that Muslims make over 90% of the population.
  • What probably also prompted the public outrage against Patel was that regulations like the LDAR have come at a time when the island is battling its first Covid wave.



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