Binayak Sen’s conviction by a Raipur sessions court, which held him guilty of sedition and treason on Friday, has shocked his family, supporters and the Centre.
Binayak Sen’s conviction by a Raipur sessions court, which held him guilty of sedition and treason on Friday, has shocked his family, supporters and the Centre.
The central agencies are of the opinion that perhaps Sen should not have been punished for sedition. “At best, it seems to be a marginal case,” an official said.
“One can say that he was providing medical treatment to Maoists or was their sympathiser. But it may be far fetched to imagine that he actually supported their terror activities on the field,” he said.
Sen’s lawyer in the Supreme Court Colin Gonsalves said, “It’s like the emergency days judgment. There’s no recovery of any weapon, no violence, and no evidence.”
Former Delhi high court chief justice Rajnder Sachar, who also heads the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), said the judgment is “outrageous’’.
“It is scandalous to say that he was working against the interest of the country. The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, under which he has been convicted, is unconstitutional. We’ll challenge it in the high court,’’ Sachar said.
Outrightly rejecting the verdict, Swami Agnivesh said, “Sen being convicted for sedition is unacceptable.”
His wife Illina Sen said, “I am sad at the judgment. I am sad because my husband and I will have to fight another long legal battle and I don’t know how long will this be. But I am sadder for the state of Indian democracy.”
“I don’t agree with this judgment. One who has worked for the poor for 30 years, if that person is found guilty of sedition activities and conspiracy —when gangsters and scamsters are walking free — I think it’s a scandalous situation,” she said.
A pediatrician, Sen went to Chhattisgarh in 1981 and spent much of his time to bring healthcare to tribals in impoverished areas.
He was a member of the state advisory committee which pioneered a community-based health worker programme across the state. Alongside, he consulted a weekly clinic in a tribal community in Dhamtari district.
He was also an advisor to the Jan Swasthya Sahyog, a health care organisation working on rural low cost models of community health in the Bilaspur district of the state.
Sen and his wife set up an NGO Rupantar, which trained, deployed and monitored community health workers in 20 villages. Rupantar then branched out to cover alcohol abuse, violence against women, and food security.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}