Why 'impose' Goonda Act on Lakshadweep, which has no crime, no locks on doors?

By Our Representative
An online open forum of political and social activists has given a call to “protect” social, cultural, economic and environmental rights of Lakshadweep from what most participants described as “looming threat of the agenda of right-wing BJP and its allies in the Central government.” Part of the daily Satyagraha dialogue series on “Lakshadweep, the burning heart", the forum was hosted by the Socialist Party (India).
Insisting that the Bio Diversity Act should also be invoked as in tribal area land alienation cannot be done as per law, the participants questioned the appointment of administrator of Lakshadweep Praful Patel, a politician, “who is not from the administrative service which is contrary to the practice so far where Lakshadweep being a Union territory had always a retired administration official as its administrator.”
They said, it is inadmissible for an administrator to declare that he wants Lakshadweep to be changed like Maldives with the allocation of Rs 700 crore, which would include Rs 250 crore Central subsidy, allowing investors to get land on 100 year lease for tourism development. “More than 95% population is Muslim and most of them are from the scheduled tribe (ST) category. Hence the ST Act should be invoked for the loss of livelihood”, it was pointed out.
The participants included Thampan Thomas, ex-MP, Kerala; Justice Shamsuddeen, retired judge Kerala High Court; Adiraja Muhammad Rafi, Arakkal Dynasty; Pannalal Surana, national president, Socialist Party (India); Sunilam, ex-MLA and convenor of Samajwadi Samagam; Magsaysay award winning social activist Dr Sandeep Pandey; Sadiq, Convenor-Save Lakshadweep Forum, among others.
The participants said, Lakshwadeep’s ecology, culture, social fabric, and good governance have proven to be “phenomenal”. With a population of around 70,000, their identity should be preserved not just for Lakshadweep sake but for the sake of entire world. Out of 27 Lakshadweep islands, 10 of them are inhabited. Fishing and coconut harvesting are the main sources of livelihood.
They pointed out, Lakshadweep seems to be a unique place where there is no crime, no locks on doors, no liquor, and there is commendable degree of social harmony, yet the national government seems to be bent upon forcing liquor and Goonda Act on a place with lowest crime. “Why is Goonda Act introduced in a place where prisons are empty and crime is at lowest rate?”, they wondered.

There are no inequities in income. Measures forced upon the islanders will threaten not just social harmony but also ecology and human rights

Pointing out that Lakshadweep islands are surrounded by lagoons and its environmentally sensitive area, they said, “There are no inequities in income here. The measures forced upon the islands will threaten not just the social harmony but also ecology and human rights of the people”, wondering why “Lakshadweep panchayats have been overridden.”
The participants said with the new rules, Lakshadweep fundamental rights such as right to equality Article 19, right to livelihood Article 21 and right to cultural freedom Article 29 have been “trampled upon”, adding, this is one reason why the islanders have formed Save Lakshadweep Forum and have decided to take legal recourse.
Praising the Kerala for passing a resolution against the new administrator and rules, the participants said, “All other states and union territories should also follow this precedence set by Kerala and stand united to save Lakshadweep. Destroying the ecosystem these islands is akin to destroying the life there.”
Regretting that after the administrator took over in January this year, Lakshadweep islands, which were free from the deadly coronavirus disease, the number of people infected has risen to 6,000, the participants said, “Right to ownership of land is also being taken away from the natives. While the local citizens do not want liquor in their islands, new administrator introduces liquor against people wishes in the name of tourism.”

Comments

Nobel laureates join international figures, seek release of Bhima Koregaon accused activists

Nobel laureates Olga Tokarczuk, Wole Soyinka Counterview Desk As many as 57 top international personalities, including Nobel laureates, academics, human rights defenders, lawyers cultural personalities, and members of Parliament of European countries, have urged the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India to ensure immediate release of human rights defenders in India “into safe conditions”.

Buddhist shrines massively destroyed by Brahmanical rulers in "pre-Islamic" era: Historian DN Jha's survey

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Russia, China to call the shots in Middle East, as Muslim nations turn into house of cards

By Haider Abbas* Only a naive would buy that the ‘situation of ceasefire’ between the State of Israel and Hamas would continue, as if the foiled attempt to demolish Al Aqsa this time, is not be repeated, if not in any near future then in sometime to come. Israel already has spurned the ‘ceasefire’ by storming Al Aqsa after the Friday prayers on May 21.

Collapse of healthcare system? Why 90% of Covid patients treated at home survived

By Bobby Ramakant, Sandeep Pandey* Well known Hindustani classical singer Padma Vibhu shan Channulal Mishra, chosen as one of the proposers of Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha elections, lost his wife and elder daughter to Covid in private hospitals in Varanasi. Younger daughter has accused Medwin Hospital of charging Rs 1.5 lakh for treatement of her sister and not being able to explain the cause of death. Pandit Channulal Mishra has asked for a probe into his daughter’s death from the Chief Minister. The family has also asked for the CCTV footage of the ward where deceased daughter was admitted for a week.

Modi-led regime 'contributed' 60% to rise of global poverty, yet Hindutva is intact

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* In recent years, the Hindutva politics has caused long term damage to India and Indians. The so called 56-inch macho PM, the propaganda master manufactures and survives all political crisis including the current mismanagement of the Coronavirus pandemic in India. In spite of deaths and destitutions, the social, cultural, economic and religious base of Hindutva is intact.

Rooted in mistrust? Covid-19’s march into rural India is a very different ball game

By Sudhir Katiyar* As the Covid-19 virus penetrates rural India, the rural communities are responding very differently from their urban counterparts who rushed to the hospitals. The rural communities are avoiding the public health facilities and any mention of the disease. The note argues that this supposedly irrational response is based on a deep-seated mistrust of the state by the rural communities. It can not be resolved with routine Information, Education and Communication (IEC) measures suggested in the Government of India SOP for tackling Covid-19 in rural areas.

Hunger, lack of food security behind India's 'slip' in UN's sustainable development rank

By Dr Gian Singh* According to a report released by the United Nations on June 6, 2021, India's ranking of achieving Sustainable Development based on the 17 Social Development Goals (SDGs) set by the 193 countries in the 2003 agenda, which was 115th last year, has slipped to 117th position this year. India ranks not only the lowest among the BRICS countries -- Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa but also below the four South Asian countries -- Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Courageous, in-depth attempt to confirm common spiritual values of Christ, Buddha

By RB Sreekumar, IPS* All religions, both theistic and atheistic designed conceptual and practical architecture, for holistic and comprehensive elevation and enlightenment of humanity. PK Vijayan, in his novel “Nirvana of Jesus Christ” (Notion Press, 2020) through creative imagination portrayed personality evolution of the two progenitors of God-centric and sagaciously logical major religions – Jesus Christ of Christianity and Gautama Buddha of Buddhism.

Why hasn't Govt of India responded to US critique of freedom of religion under Modi?

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* About two weeks ago, on May 12, 2021, the US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken released in Washington the ‘2020 International Religious Freedom Report.’ This official annual report of the US Government details the status of religious freedom in nearly 200 foreign countries and territories and describes US actions to support religious freedom worldwide. Mandated by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, this report highlights the fact that ‘religious freedom is both a core American value and a universal human right’.

Counterview

Search This Blog