#Lakshadweep Furore : Kerala Assembly Passes Resolution, Wants Administrator Recalled, Alleges Saffron Agenda Implemented Through Backdoor

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has moved a resolution in the state assembly expressing solidarity with the people of Lakshadweep who are on a path of protest against the recent actions of the island administrator.

Vijayan said there was an attempt to destroy the indigenous lifestyle and ecosystem in the archipelago and implement the ‘saffron agenda’ through the backdoor.

“Centre should intervene in Lakshadweep issue. It’s Centres responsibility to ensure that people’s interest should be protected. The Administrator, who is challenging the interests of the people, must be removed & the Centre must take immediate action to protect the lives & livelihood of people of Lakshadweep. ” said Vijayan as quoted by ANI

Coconut trees were painted with saffron colour there as part of the agenda, the Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran alleged moving the resolution.

“The attempt is to impose and implement the saffron agenda and corporate interests in Lakshadweep,” Vijayan said.

It is the first ever resolution moved in the House after the second Vijayan government came to power achieving a resounding victory in the April 6 Assembly polls.

It may be recalled that Opposition parties in Lakshadweep and Kerala are up in arms against various measures initiated by the Administrator of the group of islands, terming them as “anti-people” and have sought his recall. Lakshadweep MP, NCP”s Mohammed Faizal and his colleagues from neighbouring Kerala– T N Prathapan (Congress), Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M) and E T Mohammed Basheer (Muslim League) have urged the Centre to recall Praful Khoda Patel, Administrator of India’s smallest union territory.

They alleged that Patel unilaterally lifted restrictions on the use of alcohol in the Muslim-majority islands, banned beef products, citing Animal Preservation and demolished fishermen’s sheds built on the coastal areas, saying they violated the Coast Guard Act.

Rahul Gandhi, Former Congress president too had earlier slammed the BJP over the issue in a tweet as he wrote, Lakshadweep is India’s jewel in the ocean. The ignorant bigots in power are destroying it. I stand with the people of Lakshadweep.