Amid A Black Flag Protest, Lakshadweep's New Administrator Praful Patel Arrives

The All-Party Save Lakshadweep Forum has organised the Black Flag protest against Administrator Praful Khoda Patel.

Hundreds of Lakshadweep's natives -- families and leaders -- are observing a Black Flag protest today as their new Administrator Praful Khoda Patel arrived in the island group. This is the first time he has gone there since his sweeping reforms, some of them proposed, sparked outrage in the Union Territory and in neighbouring Kerala some weeks ago. Amid a lockdown, locals raised black flags at home, while many wore black masks or badges. The protest was organised by the All-Party Save Lakshadweep Forum. This happened days after another protest against the alleged "anti-people and anti-democratic" draft orders of the Administrator. "All people of Lakshadweep are united, irrespective of political leanings," said one such protester, remaining unidentified.