8 quit BJP in Lakshadweep as unrest grows

KOCHI: The chorus within BJP for Lakshadweep administrator Praful Patel’s recall has grown louder, with eight members of the party’s Yuva Morcha resigning in the past two days and several more indicating they might do likewise in protest against “plain autocratic gover nance”.
Former Yuva Morcha general secretary PP Mohammed Hashim, who led the first batch that quit, said others still in the organisation were just as frustrated over the decisions and proposals initiated by the administrator, including a blanket beef ban and a new draft regulation for prevention of anti-social activities. “We joined BJP with the intention of bringing development to the islands. But the administrator doesn’t listen to anyone and foists his orders on us. We decided to quit as the administrator’s rule is disrupting life of the islanders.”
Besides Hashim, former state vice-president MC Muthukoya, ex-treasurer B Shukoor, former president MI Mohammed and members PP Jamhar, Anwar Hussain, Afsal N and Ramees N have sent a joint resignation to the party. “We are resigning as the one-sided decisions taken by the new administration is harmful to the peace of Lakshadweep,” the members wrote in the May 24 letter. Hashim said the statements of BJP members in Kerala against Lakshadweep amid the crisis had been hurtful, too.
Times View: On the face of it, there’s little crime on the island. This raises the question of why there is a need for a special law to prevent anti-social activity. It justifiably raises the suspicion of a hidden agenda behind the government empowering itself with a draconian law.