Nivedita Menon’s write-up in Kafila (ans another webzine)based on account sent by Aravinda Pillalamarri have various misrepresentation of facts. Firstly, I did not sign any postcard demanding the release of Dr. Binayak Sen. When the post card was given to me I returned it writing on it that they are giving it to a wrong person and that they are free to petition the government. This happened after the conference when I was discussing with a group of students after the seminar I had said that since the police is convinced they have charge-sheeted the case. However, since the trial has already commenced and the matter sub-judice I can not discuss evidence here. The supporters of Dr. Binayak Sen had gone up to Supreme Court but could not get relief. They can again move the trial court if they want or petition the government if they so desire.
The reference of what I said about Ajay TG is also misleading and mischievous. I had only stated that the police did not press charge-sheet because it wanted to verify certain facts brought to my notice by the wife of Ajay TG and the police wanted to check the veracity of those facts before taking a decision. Not preferring to file a charge sheet does not mean closing the case.
What the write-up did not carry mischievously or unfortunately was that people participating or attending to the seminar objected to the behavior of the protestors and demanded that I may be allowed to complete my presentation.
The psy-war machinery of Maoists believes that a lie is stronger than truth. It seems Goeble continues to be one of their heroes.
LIES DO NOT HELP ANYONE
Lies have been one of the strongest weapons in the arsenal of Maoists – only next to weapons and explosives. Weapons and explosives are used to terrorize those who oppose them. Lies are meant to partly confuse and to partly win over people to their sides.
When I decided to go to University of California, Berkeley to present my point of view a psy-war was unleashed in Berkeley through SMSs and cyber-space to oppose my visit. Most people invited in the conference, the Maoists and their supporters thought, would castigate the government of India and Chhattisgarh for violating human rights etc. They did not want the DGP of Chhattisgarh to introduce a discordant note. The Maoists and their supporters decided to use the case of Dr. Binayak Sen as a mask to cover their real intention.
They send “questions for the DGP” on web-sites asking some inane, puerile and obscured questions about the case of Dr. Binayak Sen and CSPSA. As the case against Dr. Binayak Sen is sub-judice I would not comment on it but there are constitutional and legal ways to fight any ACT or LAW and that is that if it is held ultra vires of the constitution it goes automatically. But Maoists and their supporters who have no faith in the Indian Democratic System or the judiciary in India believe in pressure tactics. Dr. Binayak Sen’s case must be fought more on the streets through dharnas, demonstrations and only incidentally through the courts.
So the demonstration at Berkeley was not surprising to me. What must have surprised them was that I remained unruffled. What must have further surprised them that a many amongst the listeners started to protest against their unruly slogan shouting. What must have equally flustered them was the fact I was prepared to talk to them and answer questions after the seminar and question and answers session.
But the psy-war had to be launched. Lies had to be invented. Facts had to be misconstrued. So the post card on which I wrote that I am the wrong person and if they want they should send it directly to the government has been circulated through the cyber-space as my having signed a post card demanding release of Dr. Binayak Sen. My explanation that we preferred postponing charge-sheeting of Ajai TG because his wife gave certain information which we wanted to verify was twisted to mean that arrest of Ajai TG was “technical mistake”. More lies would fill the cyber-space I know. But these don’t ruffle me. Lies have never ruffled me. And I have the strength to accept the truth. At Berkeley there were many other who also know the truth of what I spoke.
But there is a catch. The muck the Maoist supporters throw into the cyber-space is read mostly by those who believe in their cause. Others who accidentally see their sites only feel bemused and silently chuckle at them.
- VISHWA RANJAN
Binayaksen.net is one more in the growing list of efforts by well wishers and supporters of Dr Binayak Sen to bring the injustice being done to him by the government of Chhattisgarh to the attention of people around the world. Finally on 25 May 2009 the Indian Supreme Court granted bail to Dr Sen and though he is out of prison, where he spent the past two years, he is not yet a completely free man.
We will continue to campaign for the dropping of all charges against Dr Sen and in a very modest way also carry forward his mission for a better world- one in which no child goes hungry, no mother cries over the torture of her children and no one is denied medical attention for want of money.
Binayak warns of a possible genocide in IndiaExpress BuzzOtherwise, a genocide-like situation can occur here in five to ten years,” eminent human rights activist Dr Binayak Sen has said. Binayak Sen, who was was ... […]
Nairs eye Tharoor's empty cabinet perch (Capital Buzz)Calcutta Tube (blog)... him and spirit him way to a prison in Chhattisgarh where he could be left to rot like the good doctor Binayak Sen who remained in prison for two years. ... […]
TehelkaSO WHY ARE THESE MEN IN JAIL?TehelkaIt was once said of Binayak Sen (the public health activist arrested in Chhattisgarh in 2007 on charges of being a Maoist) that even if his supporters ... […]
Book on women's empowerment in 3 countries launchedThe New NationBinayak Sen, Research Director, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and Prof Ainoon Nahar of Jahangirnagar University, took part in the ...and more » […]
DGP CHHATTISGARH’S REJOINDER
Nivedita Menon’s write-up in Kafila (ans another webzine)based on account sent by Aravinda Pillalamarri have various misrepresentation of facts. Firstly, I did not sign any postcard demanding the release of Dr. Binayak Sen. When the post card was given to me I returned it writing on it that they are giving it to a wrong person and that they are free to petition the government. This happened after the conference when I was discussing with a group of students after the seminar I had said that since the police is convinced they have charge-sheeted the case. However, since the trial has already commenced and the matter sub-judice I can not discuss evidence here. The supporters of Dr. Binayak Sen had gone up to Supreme Court but could not get relief. They can again move the trial court if they want or petition the government if they so desire.
The reference of what I said about Ajay TG is also misleading and mischievous. I had only stated that the police did not press charge-sheet because it wanted to verify certain facts brought to my notice by the wife of Ajay TG and the police wanted to check the veracity of those facts before taking a decision. Not preferring to file a charge sheet does not mean closing the case.
What the write-up did not carry mischievously or unfortunately was that people participating or attending to the seminar objected to the behavior of the protestors and demanded that I may be allowed to complete my presentation.
The psy-war machinery of Maoists believes that a lie is stronger than truth. It seems Goeble continues to be one of their heroes.
Vishwaranjan
DGP
Chhattisgarh
Raipur
India
LIES DO NOT HELP ANYONE
Lies have been one of the strongest weapons in the arsenal of Maoists – only next to weapons and explosives. Weapons and explosives are used to terrorize those who oppose them. Lies are meant to partly confuse and to partly win over people to their sides.
When I decided to go to University of California, Berkeley to present my point of view a psy-war was unleashed in Berkeley through SMSs and cyber-space to oppose my visit. Most people invited in the conference, the Maoists and their supporters thought, would castigate the government of India and Chhattisgarh for violating human rights etc. They did not want the DGP of Chhattisgarh to introduce a discordant note. The Maoists and their supporters decided to use the case of Dr. Binayak Sen as a mask to cover their real intention.
They send “questions for the DGP” on web-sites asking some inane, puerile and obscured questions about the case of Dr. Binayak Sen and CSPSA. As the case against Dr. Binayak Sen is sub-judice I would not comment on it but there are constitutional and legal ways to fight any ACT or LAW and that is that if it is held ultra vires of the constitution it goes automatically. But Maoists and their supporters who have no faith in the Indian Democratic System or the judiciary in India believe in pressure tactics. Dr. Binayak Sen’s case must be fought more on the streets through dharnas, demonstrations and only incidentally through the courts.
So the demonstration at Berkeley was not surprising to me. What must have surprised them was that I remained unruffled. What must have further surprised them that a many amongst the listeners started to protest against their unruly slogan shouting. What must have equally flustered them was the fact I was prepared to talk to them and answer questions after the seminar and question and answers session.
But the psy-war had to be launched. Lies had to be invented. Facts had to be misconstrued. So the post card on which I wrote that I am the wrong person and if they want they should send it directly to the government has been circulated through the cyber-space as my having signed a post card demanding release of Dr. Binayak Sen. My explanation that we preferred postponing charge-sheeting of Ajai TG because his wife gave certain information which we wanted to verify was twisted to mean that arrest of Ajai TG was “technical mistake”. More lies would fill the cyber-space I know. But these don’t ruffle me. Lies have never ruffled me. And I have the strength to accept the truth. At Berkeley there were many other who also know the truth of what I spoke.
But there is a catch. The muck the Maoist supporters throw into the cyber-space is read mostly by those who believe in their cause. Others who accidentally see their sites only feel bemused and silently chuckle at them.
- VISHWA RANJAN
Please do look also at the responses that DGP Vishwaranjan got on kafila where he posted these comments.
http://kafila.org/2008/10/02/dg-police-vishwaranjan-of-chhattisgarh-faces-protests-in-berkeley/