Praful Khoda Patel was assigned the additional charge of Administrator of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in December last year. Ever since the senior BJP leader has sought to bring drastic changes to the administration and redundant governing system of the union territory – the majoritarian norms which were inhibiting the path of Lakshadweep becoming a tourist hotspot are now slowly getting dismantled. Praful Patel – a leader known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is rapidly overhauling Lakshadweep’s status quo and bringing the islands in tandem with the present times.
Being an administrator belonging to the BJP in a union territory that is comprised of 95 per cent Muslims, is no easy task. However, the demography of Lakshadweep has not stopped Praful Patel in his endeavour to reform the union territory and ultimately make it a tourist destination which is flocked by visitors from around the world. So, who is this gutsy Praful Patel, who is taking the challenge head-on and not worrying about the usual Islamo-Leftist alliance which is crying hoarse over his actions?
In 2016, Prime Minister Modi got Praful Patel appointed as Administrator of Daman and Diu followed shortly after by the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Praful Patel, as is evident, is a disruptionist, and his policies in Lakshadweep were long overdue. Patel introduced a proposal to implement the anti-social Activities Regulation bill, 2021, or the goonda act in the island territory.
Among the policies of the new administration that are being opposed are: banning candidates with more than two children from contesting Panchayat polls, the removal of illegal storage facilities along the coast, and the strict order to boat owners against leasing/renting their boats to individuals without proper permission from authorities.
Read more: Lakshadweep can become India’s Maldives, but Islamists and Communists are protesting against it
Besides, Patel has also given a nod to opening liquor bars in the island, a non-alcoholic zone due to its Muslim population, to promote tourism. Further, he has also proposed to bring in a beef ban and eliminate non-vegetarian food from the menu of Anganwadi children. After taking responsibility as the administrator of Lakshadweep in December 2020, Praful Patel had conducted 18 raids across the UT to fight the drug menace. Anti-CAA/NRC posters placed by radical Islamist outfits were brought down throughout the Islands.
Despite having a Muslim population of over 95 per cent— the Islamist and communists wrongfully claim that Patel is trying to undermine the ‘Islamic character’ of Lakshadweep. Simply put, these armchair crusaders want the public of Lakshadweep to languish in a bygone era, amidst poverty and lack of opportunities. Patel dared to change that and in return, he has received a bucketful of hate and backlash. But like his mentor – Narendra Modi, Praful Patel will not be caving in to the outrage and will go on doing what needs to be done for the welfare of Lakshadweep.