Geetu Mohandas and Sunny Wayne also come out in support of the people of Lakshwadeep
Criticisms over the Lakshadweep administrator Praful Patel’s alleged undemocratic policies are getting severe. Social media campaigns with the hashtag #SaveLakshwadeep have already begun in full swing. Actor Prithviraj was the first from Malayalam industry to tweet in support of the people of Lakshwadeep. Actress-turned-filmmaker Geetu Mohnadas and Sunny Wayne have also come out endorsing the #SaveLakshwadeep campagin. Interestingly, both of them have a Lakshwadeep connection. Geetu’s last film ‘Moothon’ was shot extensively in the island and Sunny Wayne had played the role of a Lakshwadeep native in ‘Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal’.
Geetu Mohandas has written,
I shot Moothon in Lakshadweep. One of the most magical places with the most beautiful people I have ever met in my life . My heart goes out to each and everyone who reached out to me. Their cries were desperate , real . There is not much we can do apart from voicing our opinion collectively . Please do not disturb their peace , disrupt their ecosystem, their innocence . Not in the name of development . I hope it reaches the right ears . #savelakshadweep #istandwithlakshadweep
Teepee Abid
Similarly, Prithviraj had also shot for his film ‘Anarkali’ in Lakshwadeep. Ever since then, he has been sharing a very close bond with the people there. In a detailed Facebook note, the actor urged the authorities to listen to the voice of the people of Lakshadweep. He also added that any law, reform or amendment should never be enforced for the land, but for the people of the land.
Praful Khoda Patel, a BJP leader and former Gujarat Minister, was appointed as the island administrator last December and ever since then, many existing laws have been amended unilaterally and new legislations were being drafted without consultation with the people or their elected representatives.
Till mid-January this year, Lakshadweep was coronavirus-free. However, the standard operating procedure (SOP) which was in force for preventing the spread of the pandemic got revamped. According to the people of the island, the unplanned and unscientific altering of SOP has led to the current surge in Covid cases in Lakshwadeep, where not even a single case was reported in the year 2020. As of now, Lakshadweep has reported around 5000 cases and 14 deaths.
Apart from this, there are also severe allegations about the BJP leadership trying to enforce their communal agenda in the island, which has a 99% Muslim population. Hundreds of casual and contractual staff have reportedly been terminated from services from different government offices on a daily basis. The administration has also proposed to introduce a new law that calls for a complete beef ban.
