The controversy over the proposals by Praful Patel, the administrator of the Lakshadweep Islands is much ado about nothing and it is likely to blow over in a few weeks’ time, according to experts keeping a close watch over the developments in the archipelago.
“The administrator and officials in charge did not apply their minds properly when they drafted the reforms meant to develop the islands,” N Sathyamurthy, security expert based in Chennai who focuses on the developments in Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep and Maldives told The Pioneer.
Sathyamurthy pointed out that the move to build resorts in Lakshadweep with the intention of making the archipelago similar to that of Maldives was an ill-conceived proposal. “Maldives islands function based on Sharia Law. The five star resorts in the atolls do not serve liquor. It is a crime to carry liquor to Maldives and there is every chance of you getting prosecuted if caught with liquor,” said a frequent traveller to the islands on condition of anonymity.
He said there are Star grades hotels and resorts that offer liquor. “But they are all in uninhabited islands. During the months of Ramazan , the visitors are advised to stay indoors and no food will be served in the eateries,” he added.
According to Sathyamurthy, it is another thing that resorts are built in the uninhabited areas. “The mission to launch resorts in islands inhabited by the local population does not augur well,” he said.
Businessmen in Kochi and Kozhikode said that the move by the Island administration to make use of Mangalore Port for trading activities to the islands instead of Beypore was long overdue. “The trade unions controlling the workers of Beypore Port are to be blamed for the move. Kerala workers are militant and strike work at the drop of a hat. The islanders are at the mercy of the Port workers in Beypore,” said a trader in Kozhikode who has business dealings with the islands.
Meanwhile the agitators themselves are making faux pas while issuing statements against the administration. A struggling movie artist in a bid to catch public attention alleged during a channel discussion that the administrator was using bio weapon to kill the islanders. A group of criminal petitions have been filed against the artist in various courts of the State and this forced her to make a volte-face. The wannabe star tendered a public apology and blamed the media for distorting her comments. But the allegation made by her has gone viral and chances are that the issue may snowball into another controversy.
