India
oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P
New Delhi, May 27: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the withdrawal of new regulations in Lakshadweep, saying they seek to penalise dissent and undermine grassroots democracy. In a letter to the prime minister, he said all this is being done by the new Administrator Praful Khoda Patel in the guise of development and maintaining law and order.
“I request you to intervene in this matter and ensure that the above mentioned orders are withdrawn.The people of Lakshadweep deserve a developmental vision that respects their way of life and reflects their aspirations,” Gandhi told the prime minister.
Noting that Lakshadweep’s pristine natural beauty and its unique confluence of cultures have drawn people for generations, he said the custodians of its heritage seek to safeguard the archipelago for posterity.