The Save Lakshadweep Forum is observing a 'black day' in protest against the visit of Praful Khoda Patel. Save Lakshadweep Forum, a platform of various political parties opposing the draft regulations moved by Patel, said they will observe a “black day” by wearing black masks and raising black flags at their homes during the administrator’s visit, which is scheduled to conclude on June 20.

A number of regulations introduced by Patel has triggered a massive outcry among the residents of the Union Territory as well as Opposition parties. The new regulations include a proposed cow slaughter ban, a preventive detention law in the Union Territory, which has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, and a draft law proposing sweeping changes in land development regulations.

The protesters have also sought time to meet Patel, who will be Lakshadweep reportedly for 10 days. Meanwhile, citing the high number of COVID cases, Members of Parliament (MPs) from both Congress and Left parties were denied permission to visit the Union Territory. This comes two days after 15 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers in Lakshadweep resigned from the party after a sedition case was filed against filmmaker Aisha Sultana allegedly for her comments against the Centre's COVID-19 management in the union territory.

Patel, who was appointed as the Administrator of Lakshadweep in December 2020, is facing opposition over policies introduced by him from the people of the union territory and politicians, both from within Lakshadweep and the neighbouring state of Kerala.

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