Who is Lakshadweep's Aisha Sultana

Actor Aisha Sultana faces sedition charges after she described Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel as a 'bio weapon' over a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases on the island.

Ernakulam: Actor Aisha Sultana, a young artist based in India's Lakshadweep island faces sedition charges after she criticized the local administrator as a 'bio-weapon' over a sudden surge in Covid cases on the island.

Her comments on a TV show came against a backdrop of reforms on the island led by administrator Praful Khoda Patel. The case against her was booked at the Kavaratti police station on a complaint by the local BJP leader Abdul Khader Haji. Sultana defended her comments, which she said were aimed at Patel's decisions and not the country.

"Lakshadweep had zero cases of COVID-19. Now it is reporting a daily spike of 100 cases. She had said on a Malayalam TV debate earlier this week, according to reports. The actor has been vocal and active in the campaigns against the new reforms introduced on the island.

Who is Aisha Sultana?

Aisha Sultana is a model, actor and director. She is the first woman filmmaker in the island's history. According to media reports, the Malayalam-language film Flush was her first as an independent director in 2020. Sultana had worked with many Malayalam filmmakers including Lal Jose. She had also worked as an associate director in the film Kettyolaanu Ente Maalakha. "One more person who came as my Assistant Director is now doing independent film making. This time, it is a girl, Aisha Sultana from Lakshadweep. I am happy to share the poster of her movie, Flush," Lal Jose said at the time.

Sultana was in the regional news earlier in a controversy involving female costume designer Stephy Xavier for her stance against film director Geetu Mohandas. After Stephy was dropped by the director from her film, Sultana signed up Stephy for her film Flush.