Policy softened: Draft laws for Lakshadweep won't be finalised without consulting locals, says Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that the new draft laws for Lakshadweep which are being opposed by the islanders will not be finalised without consulting local representatives.
Talking to reporters after meeting Shah here, Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal said he apprised the home minister of the strong opposition to the draft laws proposed by new administrator Pradip Patel.

Faizal said he also told Shah about the widespread protests on the islands and opposition from several other quarters to the proposed legislations.

"He has assured that whatever laws that are under the consideration, they will be sent to Lakshadweep where they will be consulted with the local representatives in the district panchayat. People's consent will be taken into consideration before they are finalised," Faizal said.

Faizal has also sought removal of Patel, the administrator of the Union Territory.

Faizal said Patel has been pushing for the laws -- from ban on cow slaughter to two child norm for those wanting to contest the gram panchayat elections, allowing liquor to be served at resorts on inhabited islands -- that have upset the islander. The majority of the residents of the islands are Muslims.

Besides people have apprehensions about the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR) and the draft Lakshadweep Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation, Faizal said.

LDAR is aimed at overseeing development of towns on the islands with sweeping changes in the way land can be acquired and utilised, while the draft Lakshadweep Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation provides for powers to detain a person for up to one year to prevent him from “acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order”. It allows for detention for anti-social activities from six months to a year without legal representation.

A group of locals have already challenged the draft laws in court.

Faizal said his party NCP president Sharad Pawar has also sought a meeting with Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the chief ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu too have opposed the draft laws.