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Updated May 28th, 2021 at 11:22 IST

TMC jumps into Lakshadweep row; questions rule on disqualifying members with 2+ kids

Jumping into the Lakshadweep issue, TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Friday, questioned how the BJP administrator has imposed a two-child rule for Panchayat members

Lakshawadeep, TMC, mahua
IMAGE: PTI/Twitter | Image:self
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Jumping into the Lakshadweep issue, TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Friday, questioned how the BJP administrator has imposed a two-child rule for Panchayat members when several Union ministers had three children. Moitra is referring to Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel's rule of disqualifying Panchayat members with more than two children from elections. Several Opposition members had raised issues against Patel's 'sweeping unilateral changes' in the UT altering the lives of the people there.

TMC jumps in Lakshadweep row  

BJP unit flags concerns, Congress-CPM-NCP revolt

On Tuesday, BJP's Lakshadweep unit president Mohammad Kasim backed the local protests in the island against the new regulations, saying the party will work towards removing them. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Kasim said that the concerns against the new rules were genuine and that he had written to both PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding it. Reports state that several miffed BJP leaders have also resigned in process in protest against the administration's unilateral decisions and Centre's indifference to it.  On the other hand, Kerala BJP chief K Surendran has backed the administration slamming attempts to 'create a communal rift in society'.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal has written to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking Patel's removal claiming that Patel had imposed a series of "authoritarian measures" since his appointment on December 2, 2020. Meanwhile, CPI(M) has held Patel responsible for the current surge in COVID-19 cases. The Union Territory, which did not report any novel coronavirus case during the first wave, scrapped its rule of mandatory quarantine for travellers and allowed them to enter by showing negative RT-PCR negative test reports - leading to having a 60% positivity rate. The Opposition has claimed that Patel was trying to “saffronise the island” where almost 95% population is Muslim, with senior MPs like Sharad Pawar and Rahul Gandhi seeking revocation of the changes.

What are Patel's 'objectionable' decisions?

  • Altering COVID SOPs leading to COVID case surge
  • Ban on the slaughter, transportation, buying and selling of beef products
  • Lifting the ban on alcohol consumption
  • Demolishing the sheds where fishermen stored nets and other equipment citing violation of the Coast Guard Act
  • A new Goonda Act
  • Disqualifying Panchayat members with more than two children from elections
  • Mandating the use of Mangalore port instead of the Beypore port for freight transit 
  • Termination of  casual and contractual labourers' jobs in govt
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Published May 28th, 2021 at 11:22 IST

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