Black Day protests greet Administrator in Lakshadweep

Clad in black robes and holding black flags and protest placards, the islanders of Lakshadweep, locked down at their modest households on account of the raging pandemic, are protesting against the arr

Clad in black robes and holding black flags and protest placards, the islanders of Lakshadweep, locked down at their modest households on account of the raging pandemic, are protesting against the arrival of the Union Territory Administrator Praful Khoda Patel on Monday. The protest, called by the all-party Save Lakshadweep Forum, is to demand the immediate recall of Mr. Patel and the ‘withdrawal of the unwieldy reforms being pushed by the Union Territory administration under his stewardship.’ Hundreds of islanders and those in the mainland also put up posters and protest pictures on social media to express their dismay at the ‘anti-people policies’ announced by the administration. Muneer Manikfan, village (dweep) panchayat vice chairperson at Minicoy, said in a video message that the protest was to force the Union government to revoke the ‘unilateral, draconian, anti-people and anti-environment’ draft legislations and orders issued by Mr. Patel.