Exodus from BJP continues for second consecutive day in Lakshadweep

The party's general secretary Syed Mohammed Koya resigned on Saturday

Twelve party leaders had resigned on Friday protesting the sedition complaint against Aisha thus triggering unrest within the BJP.: Shutterstock

K.M. Rakesh   |  TT  |  Bangalore   |  13.06.21: The exodus from the BJP continued for the second consecutive day in Lakshadweep with party general secretary Syed Mohammed Koya resigning on Saturday.

A senior leader of the party’s Lakhshadweep unit, Koya had contested on a BJP ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

The spate of resignations was triggered by the sedition case on the first woman filmmaker from the islands, Aisha Sultana, who was named in an FIR for calling new administrator Praful Khoda Patel a “bio-weapon” during a television debate for his controversial decisions that are believed to have led to massive Covid surge in the Union Territory that was free from the pandemic for a year.

Twelve party leaders had resigned on Friday protesting the sedition complaint against Aisha thus triggering unrest within the BJP.

Sources said many more BJP workers and local leaders are getting ready to quit, as their very existence in a party that has supported the contentious steps taken by the administration has put them under pressure.

A leaked audio clip from a purported telephone conversation between BJP national vice-president A.P. Abdullakutty, who is in charge of the Lakshadweep unit, and local general secretary Mohammed Qasim has further established the discontent within the party.

“Let me tell you something. If you have committed a blunder, (you) have to own it up. I have full faith in Lakshadweep,” an angry Qasim was heard saying.

His outburst was apparently against Abdullakutty for getting the Lakshadweep party president to lodge a complaint against Aisha which led to the sedition case that has put the party in trouble.

“What should I reconsider? The complaint against Aisha Sultana who made an anti-national comment? Are you saying that complaint should be withdrawn?” Abdullakutty is heard asking.

Another audio tape emerged on Friday purportedly featuring the voice of Lakshadweep BJP vice-president K.P. Muthukoya describing the “bio-weapon” remark as “an opportunity given by Allah”. He then went on to exhort Abdullakutty to leverage on the issue.

To this, Abdullakutty is purportedly heard saying: “This will get a lot of news space. We need to consider that as well. Send two or three videos.”

But on the contrary, the party’s stand against Aisha and the leaked audio clip in which the two leaders spoke about utilising the opportunity only worsened matters within the BJP unit in the islands.

Eight party leaders had resigned earlier protesting the controversial reforms carried out after Patel took charge.