Lakshadweep administration refuses entry of Congress MPs citing law and order situation, Covid

The Congress MPs had sought permission to visit the islands which had been witnessing protests over certain orders by the new Centrally appointed administrator Praful Khoda Patel.

The Lakshadweep administration noted that the visit has a political motive and such activities may "disturb the calm, peaceful atmosphere"  and is against the interest of the general public, the Scheduled Tribes, public order and security of the Union Territory, reported NDTV.

It also cited the possibility of a rise in Covid-19 cases with the visit of the people from the mainland, the report added.

"Lakshadweep being a scheduled area and the entire native population being Scheduled Tribes, duty of administration to ensure peace and avoid disturbance due to external interference," the administration said in its response.

The Congress and Left MPs had earlier approached the Kerala High Court, seeking intervention for a permit to visit Lakshadweep.

Patel, who was appointed by the BJP government at the Centre in Dec 2020, introduced the proposal of the implementation of the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, or the Goonda Act in the union territory, which already has a lower crime rate.

As per media reports, locals fear that such an Act will enable the administration to arrest anyone without a trial.

In his explanation, Patel, who is the first politician to assume the administrator's post in a union territory, told The Print that people who have done nothing wrong should not be worried about the new Act.

The administrator has sought to bring changes in the panchayat regulations in Lakshadweep, which has no assembly or lawmakers directly elected by common people.

As per the new proposed reforms, any person, who has more than two children, will be ineligible to contest panchayat elections.

The government has also proposed to take control over the administrative powers of Zilla panchayat in matters like education, healthcare, agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries.

Besides the administrative rejigs, Patel gave nod to open liquor bars to encourage tourism in the island territory which is so far non-alcoholic zone due to its Muslim population.

A ban on beef and an elimination of non-vegetarian food from the menu of Angadwadi children are set to be implemented.