‘Jail bharo’ protest in Pune for release of Binayak Sen

The city-based Release Binayak Sen Committee has joined the nationwide protest for the release of Dr Binayak Sen, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment by the Raipur sessions court in Chhattisgarh.

Similar protests are being organised on Sunday across the country, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Raipur for the release of Sen, who has been charged with ‘sedition’ allegedly on extremely flimsy evidence.

Dr Abhay Shukla, a member of the committee, said the demonstration will be organised at 11 am on Sunday. “The protest will be a part of the ‘Lokshahi Utsav’ programme where people would gather to briefly pay homage to martyrs at Majur Adda, near Faraskhana police station (off Laxmi Road). The procession will begin at 11.10 am and conclude at Senapati Bapat Statue, near Alka Talkies,” he said.

He said the protest would be a part of the nationwide ‘Jail bharo’ protests.

“The argument is that so many social activists are engaged in developmental and rights work similar to Binayak Sen, and if Sen has been imprisoned for this ‘offence’ then many of us are ‘guilty’ of similar activities, and also offer to court arrest with the slogan ‘Hum Sab Binayak Hain!’,” said Shukla.