Patel never understood islanders’ culture: Faisal

Administrator Praful Patel has been to Lakshadweep for just 15-20 days in the past five months, and cared little to understand the islanders’ culture and ecology, its Member of Parliament Mohammed Faizal said.

Faizal asserted that a legal recourse would be sought if the Centre went ahead with the controversial laws for the archipelago. The NCP leader, who has been demanding recall of Patel as administrator, said the draft laws were being opposed by every section of the society, even the local BJP leaders. He alleged that the draft legislations were in blatant violation of Supreme Court guidelines for carrying out developmental work on the ecologically-sensitive islands. Patel was given the charge of the Lakshadweep administrator following the death of Dineshwar Sharma in December last year. Faizal said Patel was trying to have a “one-man show” on the islands without consulting the locals or even their representatives.

“He (Patel) is completing five months after assuming charge. In these five months, his presence on the islands must have been for 1520 days. He has never been to the island to the understand its people concern, their heritage and culture,” Faizal said in a telephonic interview. The Lok Sabha MP said Patel had been pushing for laws that have riled the islanders, majority of whom are Muslims. The legislations include ban on cow slaughter, two-child norm for those wanting to contest the panchayat elections and allowing liquor to be served at resorts on inhabited islands. “If the Centre goes in the support of Praful Patel, the next option for us is to approach the courts for interference,” Faizal said. “We will continue to oppose this politically with the Centre to hear our voice and consider our genuine demands.”

The administrator had been pushing for laws that have riled the islanders — Mohammed Faizal, Lakshadweep MP