Thread by @akshayalladi

Thread: On the Lakshadweep controversy, some observations at different levels. First, at an institutional level, we should debate whether all UTs should also have legislatures. That’s a good way to channel democratic opinion institutionally. (1/n)

In any case a consultative approach is better, but institutional mechanisms for the same are always a more robust way to achieve that, else you’re at the mercy of the conduct of particular post holders. Of course the powers of a UT govt may be different from that of a state (2/n)

On the cow slaughter issue: I think the right balance here is to leave it to states/ UTs. I am neither a believer in absolute individual freedom nor in cultural uniformity. In the case of Lakshadweep cow slaughter should NOT be banned, but it should be in most states (3/n)

On vegetarianism in schools, I don’t see any persuasive argument in ANY state/ UT for that to be mandated. So that’s wrong at two levels- unsuited for Lakshadweep, but also bad policy overall. The state shouldn’t restrict this (4/n)

On alcohol and on the land development- I think a balanced rather than an absolute binary extreme is what is desirable. And on both I think Maldives is a good reference- similar geography, culture and economic potential. (5/n)

Lakshadweep, like Maldives can lift an absolute ban on alcohol but limit it to hotels and resorts, parties etc. with licenses. That strikes a balance between cultural sensitivities and economic development with tourism (6/n)

In almost all states there shouldn’t be a ban on alcohol, not because individual freedom is absolute (it isn’t), but that alcohol bans have proved to be bad policy. So my objection to that is not in principle but on empirical grounds. But restrictions and regulations are ok (7/n)

And the basis of those restrictions can also be local cultural sensitivities- as I said I don’t believe in individual freedom as a primary value, it is an important one but not one that trumps everything else. In this case adopt the Maldives like balance on alcohol (8/n)

Similarly on land use and development - there can be a balance between economic development and ecology. Don’t see any reason to take an extreme position. And Maldives and other atolls/ IOR littoral states can be good reference points for how to strike that balance (9/n)

Right now all these issues are getting mixed up. But we can have nuanced positions on each. But more broadly- point 1 on democratic representation in UTs helps makes these tradeoffs and strike the right balance and nuance better- we should debate that (10/10)