Lakshadweep: Administrator Praful Patel’s ‘Anti-People’ Policies Trigger Outcry, #SaveLakshadweep Trends

A large section of Kerala, including celebrities, politicians, social media users, and the general public, is angry or wary about some of the changes brought about by the Lakshadweep's newly-appointed Administrator Praful K Patel. The tweaks he has brought about since taking over in December 2020 are destructive & "target" its largely Muslim population, many of them allege, seeking recall. The BJP has, however, said they were only meant to end "corrupt practices" of politicians. Several leaders from Kerala have written to the Centre & even President Ram Nath Kovind, citing the traditional ties between the island group & Kerala. "The news from Lakshadweep is very serious. The situation there poses a challenge to the life and culture of the people inhabiting in the island," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on May 24 during his daily press briefing. In a tweet, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Patel's changes were "destroying a peaceful part of the country.” Among the first to write to President Kovind, seeking the "recall" of the new Administrator, was CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem. Congress's Ernakulam MP, Hibi Eden, too, wrote to both the President. Malayalam movie star Prithviraj Sukumar & Geetu Mohandas, among others, too, voiced their concern. #SaveLakshadweep trended through the day on Twitter.