BJP leaders resign in protest of Lakshadweep Admin's decisions; Pawar seeks removal

The activities and policy initiates of the new central administrator of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, Praful Khoda Patel, has riled not only the opposition parties but even the BJP, with many of its local leaders resigning in protest.

Drawing the PM's attention to issues raised by Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal of NCP, party chief Sharad Pawar expressed apprehensions that the new policies of the administrator could disrupt the native community's way of life and demanded that these should be rescinded. He demanded the appointment of a new administrator in the UT. NCP minister in Kerala, AK Saseendran said the state government wants to take all necessary steps to protect the interests of the people of the UT.

Congress' Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Lakshadweep is India's jewel in the ocean. The ignorant bigots in power are destroying it..."


By now, many opposition leaders have petitioned the President, demanding Patel's recall.