The Lakshadweep Fiasco- Truths and Myths

Like always, the Prime Minister has initiated some laws and it has become contentious. Let’s discern the facts from the myths and propaganda

Lakshadweep is a cluster of 36 islands, among which only 10 are inhabited, Kadmat, Andrott, Kavaratti, Bitra, Chetlat, etc to name a few. Another island called Bangaram is mainly for tourism purposes and is dotted with resorts.

Its geographical location is so close to Kerala (200-400 kilometers apart) that the cultural ethos is quite similar. With a population of 64000, 90% of inhabitants are followers of Islam and Malayalam is their language.

Agriculture and fishing are prime economic activities and tourism is only a burgeoning sector here. Tourism was booming until 2008 and then due to recurring accidents and unfortunate events, foreign tourism dwindled.

Just 700 km away from the island is the Maldives and we know that tourist footfall per year in the Maldives is astounding!

 Unlike in other Union Territories, Lakshadweep doesn’t have a deputy Governor, instead, an administrator is appointed. The present Administrator is a veteran politician Praful Khoda Patel. This is a departure from the usual scenario when an IAS rank officer is usually tasked with the administrator position.

Praful Khoda Patel has been in the cabinet in Gujarat when PM Modi was the Chief Minister and he is the administrator of Daman and Dui and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

 So let’s get to the “controversial” bills

1)    Myth: Panchayat Regulation of 2021- It is said that if you have more than two children, you cannot contest in panchayat polls. Wrong

Propaganda is being spread that this is a saffron agenda because there is a preponderance of Muslims who tend to have more children

Truth: There are two clauses attached to the regulation that state clearly that if you already have more than two children on the commencement of this regulation, you will not be disqualified so long as the number of children doesn’t increase henceforth.

The second sub-clause is that if you have a child within a year after the regulation is in place also , you are not disqualified. Taking only the “ban on people with more than two children” out of context is a vicious attempt to stoke communal violence.

Now the question arises why have a clause like this at all. Some even claim that such outlandish laws don’t exist anywhere in India. This is also a lie. Pancahyatraj Regulations in states like Telangana, Haryana, and Rajasthan have the same two children clause. The panchayat raj website is open to all and you could research and seek truth yourself.

 If that is too cumbersome, then read this article

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/two-child-policy-in-indian-states-6082879/

2nd Bill

Myth- Beef Ban

Truth: Prohibition of slaughter without certificate- under this law it is stated that before slaughtering an animal; get permission from a local authority. In that, there is a condition to not grant permission if it is a cow, calf, bull, or bullock. Now, this could be a sensitive issue but again there is nothing unconstitutional here because the safety of cows is written in the constitution of India in black and white. Under Article 38 A- there is a directive mentioning the same.

Killing buffalo has no rules at all and so technically, it isn’t a beef ban per se.

Mid-Day Meal

Myth: Mid-day meal has been made vegetarian

Truth: Meat and chicken has been removed, instead, locally available fish and egg has been included in mid-day meals. There is no hidden agenda to make Lakshadweep vegetarian.

Importing meat from outside states like Kerala was expensive and it is no secret that the imported stuff barely trickles down to the poor children. Only corruption increased and not their nutrition.

Myth: Liquor stores to be opened recklessly

Truth: In an island that is populated by majority Muslim people, who will not consume liquor, will anyone in their right minds open a smattering of liquor stores? No.

To give tourism a fillip resorts that host foreign tourists have been permitted to buy, store, and serve liquor to foreigners who demand it. Bangaram islands already have this permission. Other handfuls of islands have been included in the list.

 PASA/Goonda Act

PASA has been implemented in other UTs and States as well. In 2008, Puducherry had implemented it, in 1985, Gujarat, and in 1981 Maharashtra and 2008 in Rajasthan PASA has been implemented. The same party that crusaded for PASA during their reign is now opposing it. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, under Congress rule, have PASA in effect.

India Today reported extensively on the ISIS terrorist activities on the island. The report of child trafficking is almost negligible; this is not to say that the crime rate is zilch. The Print had reported on similar ISIS modules that operate secretively in states like Kerala and Karnataka too. Since the island is closer to Kerala, the government has taken measures to keep a closer watch. News 18 reported a coast guard seizing 300 kg of Heroin and 5 AK-47 from the island.

 But implementation on the ground can be a tricky business because unscrupulous police officers may indiscreetly take undue advantage of the law.

 LDAR

This law may cause apprehensions in people. There is a need to communicate with the people before its implementation as they fear their land can be appropriated.

 Source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtddxoImOVg