CPI(M) MPs move Kerala High Court for permit to enter Lakshadweep

Want to hear people’s grievances, they say in writ petition

A writ petition was filed at the High Court on Monday by Elamaram Kareem, A.M. Ariff, and V. Sivadasan, MPs of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], seeking a directive to the Lakshadweep administration to issue them permits to visit the island. In the petition, they said they wanted to visit the island to understand the current situation and hear the grievances of the people in Lakshadweep. Though they had approached the Administrator for an entry permit, they were asked to postpone their visit. The petitioners said they were denied permission because the Administrator wanted to hide his ‘oppressive and arbitrary actions.’ In fact, the Administrator had visited the island and returned without complying with the COVID-19 protocol.