Context: A large section of Kerala, including celebrities, politicians, social media users, and the general public, is angry or wary about some of the changes brought about by the Lakshadweep's newly-appointed Administrator Praful K Patel. Many of them have sought his recall and alleged the tweaks he has made since taking over in December 2020 are destructive and "target" the islands largely Muslim population. The BJP has, however, said they were only meant to end "corrupt practices" of politicians. Several leaders from Kerala have written to the Centre and even President Ram Nath Kovind, citing the traditional ties between the island group and Kerala. 

• In this edition of Big Picture we analyse what the save Lakshwadeep campaign is all about.

When did the Save Lakshadweep campaign begin?

• The campaign began on May 24, after the inhabitants of Lakshadweep, who are predominantly Muslim, complained that the administrator, Praful Patel was trying to implement a Hindutva agenda. 
• They also said raised their voice against the destruction of fishing structures and a proposal that prohibits parents, who have more than two children from contesting local body elections.
• At the heart of the problem is the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 (LDAR), which gives the administrator powers to remove or relocate islanders from their property, for town planning or any developmental activity. 
• Also, the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), introduced in January 2021, gives the government power to detain a person without any public disclosure for a period of up to one year.
• The draft bill gives sweeping, arbitrary, unchecked powers to the government (and all its bodies) to directly interfere with an islander’s right to possess and retain their property.

What is the controversy on contesting panchayat polls?

• The draft panchayat notification says a member with more than two children is disqualified from being a member. "No person shall be a member of a Gram Panchayat or continue as such who... has more than two children," the draft rule says. This has created panic among the residents about their ability to contest polls if they don't fit this criterion.

Why are they against the administrator though?

• Praful Patel is a politician and has faced a fair share of controversies in the past, Additionally, the past administrators of the UT were always civil servants. The administrator of Lakshwadweep before Patel was former IPS officer Dineshwar Sharma.

What policies of the current administrator do the people oppose?

• To begin with, non-vegetarian food items were removed from the school menus in Lakshadweep, a place where people increasingly consume seafood.
• People also protested against implementing the Goonda act, despite the place having a low crime rate, banning beef and allowing bar licenses.

Additional Information
Constitutional Provision

• Article 239 begins by stating that the administration of every Union Territory shall be done by the President to such extent as he thinks fit. 
• An administrator can also be appointed by the President as and when he feels. 
• Clause (2) of the same article states that the President can appoint the Governor of a State as the Administrator of an adjoining Union Territory and after such an appointment, the Governor may exercise his power and execute his functions independently of his Council of Ministers.
• Clause (2) of Article 240, on the other hand, states that any law made for the Union Territory for the time being, in order to amend any Act made by the Parliament, when promulgated by the President shall have the same effect on the Union Territory as any Act of Parliament.

Road Ahead

• There are legitimate issues and certain apprehensions of the local are justified but rather than focusing on important matters, trivial issues are being taken up and politicized. It seems more of a political agenda than wanting to actually help the islanders out. The centre all needs to address the issues of locals so that the island sees holistic development. The problem right now is lack of an elected people's representative, going forward to meet the aspirations of the people of the island we may need a legislature and probably followed the Puducherry model.