Mass resignation from Lakshadweep BJP over sedition charges against Aisha Sultana

Thiruvananthapuram: A bunch of BJP leaders has quit the party in protest against levelling of sedition charges against Lakshadweep filmmaker Aisha Sultana. On Thursday, the Kavaratti Police sent a notice to Sultana to appear before it on June 20 in connection with her remarks about the spread of Covid in the island,

The notice that has been served to Sultana contains charges under Sections 124 A and 153 B of the CrPC, both non-bailable offences.

The complaint against the filmmaker was registered by Lakshadweep BJP chief Abdul Khader following a debate on a Malayalam TV channel aired on June 7, wherein Sultana had alleged that the 'Centre used biological weapons for the spread of Covid in Lakshadweep', which according to the complainant was 'anti-national'.

Among those who have stepped down is BJP general secretary Abdul H. Mullipuzha and his supporters, who in their letter to Khader said that the charges against Sultana were 'false' and 'baseless', besides pointing out that even the BJP workers have been protesting against the manner in which new Lakshadweep administrator Praful Patel has been ringing in changes in the island.

Another popular BJP face in the island who has quit the party is A. Hameed.

According to Hameed there is no point in being the member of a party which has failed to do good to the people of the island, and it's surprising that instead of ignoring what she (Sultana) said, an FIR has been registered based on the complaint.

Many other BJP leaders from the island, including Chethalath island President Aamina, Executive members Abdul Hameed, Noushad Palllichapura, Mullakoya, and Ummukhulsu, have resigned in protest against the BJP's actions. The resignation letter has been forwarded to the state president and is against the party's move of slamming sedition charges on dissenting voices.

Bitra island BJP President Hameed Kaakayilla has informed his willingness to resign and added that the case against Sulthana was not internally discussed or decided. He further questioned what actions were taken by the party against the administrator for harming the public. Several leaders had resigned earlier on against the administrator's policies.

Earlier, a BJP conspiracy was revealed pertaining to the sedition charges against Sultana The conversations between Lakshadweep BJP Vice President KPMuthukoya and National Vice President AP Abdullakutty revealed the charges were politically motivated one.

Sultana had referred Lakshadweep administrator Praful Patel to a "bio-weapon" during a recent prime time TV debate in Kerala based news channel MediaOne TV. During the debate, she accused that the Centre used Patel against Lakshadweep, in the same way, China used Corona virus against world nations.

She also accused Mr Patel of the rising COVID cases in Lakshadweep. The Island which was a COVID free zone till January 2021 is reporting around a hundred cases these days. She stated that the unnecessary appointment and arrival of new administrator on the island is the cause behind the rise in pandemic cases.

Apart from Lakshadweep BJP, infuriated by her remarks, BJP's youth wing too had filed a complaint before Kerala Police against Sultana alleging sedition.