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Filmmaker booked for sedition over remark against Lakshadweep administrator
Aisha Sultana allegedly calling the Union Territory’s administrator Praful Khoda Patel a “bio-weapon” launched by the Centre
Thiruvananthapuram: The Lakshadweep police have registered a case of sedition against filmmaker Aisha Sultana for allegedly calling the Union territory’s administrator, Praful Khoda Patel, a “bio-weapon” launched by the Centre.
Sultana, a Lakshadweep resident, allegedly made the comment during a TV discussion amid anger in the region over new rules introduced by Patel, which his opponents say threaten the livelihoods of islanders.
The case against the filmmaker was lodged in Kavaratti on the complaint of Lakshadweep Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief C Abdul Khadar Haji on Thursday. In his complaint, Haji cited a debate on a Malayalam news channel quoting Sultana purportedly calling Patel a “bio-weapon”. He said her words were in “bad taste and intended to create hatred and aversion in the minds of people.”
According to the FIR lodged by Kavaratti police, a case under sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 B (hate speech) of the Indian Penal code has been registered against the filmmaker. She has been summoned to the police station on Monday.
Sultana said she used the word but did not attack the country or the Union government. “I was referring to some of the decisions of Patel which infuriated local people. Despite popular sentiment, he continues to antagonise people. As a local resident I have right to criticise him,” she said in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, several local BJP leaders on Friday protested against the sedition charge slapped against the filmmaker.
Lakshadweep Sahitya Pravarthaka Sangam, a body of writers, has come out in support of Sultana.
The Supreme Court on May 31 expressed concern over the misuse of India’s sedition law and said it will define the contours of the colonial era penal provision to indicate what does and does not constitute sedition.
For over a month, residents of the archipelago have been protesting against the administrator, saying his moves will affect the “unique culture and tradition” of the island.
The draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation that Patel has introduced proposes to develop the islands as a major tourist destination. Residents allege it will destroy the islands’ character and identity since 97% of the islands is covered by pristine forests and 95% of its Muslim population belongs to the Scheduled Tribe category.
Many parliamentarians, former bureaucrats and artists have described the draft regulations as arbitrary and aimed against the community of the islands.
The Kerala assembly passed a unanimous resolution seeking the recall of the administrator. As many as 93 retired bureaucrats sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticising the “partisan attitude” of the new administrator and urged him to protect the unique culture and tradition of the islands.
