New Lakshadweep Orders Spawn Censure From All Parties In Kerala Assembly

Growing political upheaval in Kerala over the Lakshadweep situation includes bipartisan support against the changes being brought about in the union territory

The Kerala Assembly on Monday morning unanimously passed a joint resolution demanding the removal of Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel over his alleged "anti-people" policies, and reminding the centre of its responsibility to protect the lives and livelihoods of the islanders. The Assembly slammed the "move to give extraordinary power to those governing Lakshadweep to take over land and property" and underlined the need to remove Mr Patel and revoke his controversial orders. The resolution said: "It is the centre's responsibility to ensure the interests of those people (residents of Lakshadweep) should be protected. The Assembly unanimously demands the Administrator, who is challenging the interests of the people, must be removed and the centre must take immediate action to protect the lives and livelihood of people of Lakshadweep." "Attempts to further saffron agenda and corporate interests are going on... where crimes are minimal, measures have been taken to bring Goonda Act... attempts to destroy livelihoods like fishing and backdoor attempts to introduce ban on beef," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on the resolution.