Many islanders feel their homeland has been turned into an 'open jail,' and they raised concerns over lack of transparency, autonomy, and civil rights.
Published Jan 02, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 04, 2025 | 9:41 AM
Praful Khoda Patel in Lakshadweep. (Facebook)
Article 19(1)(d) of the Indian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to move freely across the country. It grants individuals the freedom to travel, reside, and settle in any part of India according to their preference.
However, Constitution-guaranteed freedom does not apply universally, particularly in Union Territories with special protections. Lakshadweep, an enchanting archipelago of 36 coral islands, is one such exception.
Visitors, including Indian citizens and foreign nationals, require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to visit the pristine group of islands. Only native Lakshadweep residents and government/army officials on duty are exempted from this requirement.
While the permit system aims to safeguard the region’s fragile ecosystem and preserve its rich cultural heritage, access remains strictly regulated.
Tourists can visit only five islands — Kavaratti, Agatti, Bangaram, Kadmat, and Minicoy — and permits are typically valid for 30 days.
However, the local residents are a discontented lot, as restrictions have become increasingly stringent. Islanders claim arbitrary denial of entry, even for politicians and activists, without clear explanations. Many residents feel their homeland has turned into an “open jail”, raising concerns about transparency, autonomy, and civil rights.
In December 2020, Praful Khoda Patel took charge as the Administrator of Lakshadweep. He triggered several controversies, forcing the islanders to launch the “Save Lakshadweep” campaign.
His administration introduced several reforms, including shutting down local dairy farms and auctioning off cattle, with dairy products to be imported from Gujarat’s Amul. Alcohol restrictions were lifted, beef was banned, and meat was removed from the school Midday Meal Scheme, leading many locals to accuse the administration of pushing a Hindutva agenda.
Political parties, including Congress and CPI(M), protested, and even some BJP members criticised Patel’s policies.
The Lakshadweep administration denied entry permits to various MPs including Hibi Eden, TN Prathapan, and LDF MPs, citing concerns that their visit, aimed at “political activities,” could potentially disrupt the peaceful environment.
Small-scale protests have erupted in Thinnakkara and Bangaram islands against the controversial ‘Tent City’ project. Protesters claim that under the guise of temporary constructions, a Gujarat-based company is erecting permanent concrete structures, restricting access to the islands.
“These are tourism islands with no permanent residents, but our fishermen have traditionally used these areas during fishing trips. Now, they can’t even enter these zones. This is a clear violation of our constitutional rights,” Sabith, a Congress leader in Lakshadweep told South First.
When asked about access to the tent city construction sites, Junaid Padaveedan, a Childline official from Lakshadweep, told South First, “Even locals are not permitted to visit the areas where the constructions are underway. However, some individuals, particularly those with land disputes pending in the High Court, have managed to enter. Journalists and activists, on the other hand, are denied entry, though authorities avoid citing this as the official reason,” he said.
Advocate PK Saleem, who is leading the protest against the tent city project in Thinnakkara, Lakshadweep, criticised the current administration under Patel.
He alleged that the new administrator has imposed severe restrictions, leaving the islanders feeling like they are living in an open jail. Saleem claimed that entry restrictions are imposed to falsely project the land as unoccupied, despite its use for traditional activities such as jaggery making, coconut harvesting, and fishing.
Saleem said the administrator has been operating without documented orders and instead issuing directives through subordinates, fostering an atmosphere of fear. Saleem also contrasted Patel’s approach with that of former administrators like Dineshwar Sharma and Mihir Vardhan, who maintained cordial ties with the locals.
Saleem expressed concerns about the imposition of Section 144 and the filing of cases against protesters, which he believes have escalated under the current administration. He highlighted the lack of media and activist access, further isolating the residents and deepening their struggles.
“There are no restrictions for political parties. However, about a month ago, the Agatti police circulated a WhatsApp message to residents, stating that anyone visiting Thinnakkara must obtain prior permission from the Deputy Collector or the police,” TP Abdul Jabbar, General Secretary of the NCP (SP) in Lakshadweep, said.
“At that time, we—the NCP (SP) and Congress—held a joint meeting at the Agatti police station and voiced our opposition to this decision. Despite this, people arriving in Lakshadweep with special permits, including journalists and activists, are still barred from visiting Thinnakkara.
In my view, this is a business tactic. A Gujarat-based company is transforming the land into a luxury destination, exclusively for high-end tourists. They are gradually imposing restrictions to create the impression of private ownership,” he told South First.
(Edited by Majnu Babu.)
