Posts Tagged ‘New delhi
Delhi:Artists in solidarity with Dr. Binayak Sen
Veteran actors Sharmila Tagore, Aparna Sen, actor-director M.K. Raina and poet Ashok Vajpeyi during a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday.
Noted artistes, including filmmaker Aparna Sen, actress Sharmila Tagore, theatre actor M K Raina and poet Ashok Vajpayi, gathered at the Jantar Mantar and demanded Sen’s immediate release, alleging that he was being “persecuted” by the system.
Binayak Sen’s brother Dipankar Sen and artistes like Rabbi Shergill and Sushmit Bose were also present.
“If I do not express solidarity with Sen, I will not be fullfilling my responsibility as a citizen of the world’s largest democracy. Injustice has been done,” said noted filmmaker Aparna Sen.
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INTERACTION WITH DR. BINAYAK SEN IN DELHI
FIRST TIME SINCE HIS RLEASE FROM PRISON IN MAY 2009
DATE: 25th JULY, 2009
TIME: 2 pm to 4.30 pm
VENUE: Indian Social Institute, 10, LODI INSTITUTIONAL AREA,
NEAR SAI BABA TEMPLE, DELHI
Dear Friends,
Dr. Binayak Sen will be in Delhi on the 25th July, 2009, for the first time since his release from Raipur prison. This is an important occasion for us to meet him and him meeting us. The campaign for the release of Dr. Binayak Sen was one issue which brought together on one platform several thousands of activists and ordinary people from all over the Country and from different parts of the World. There was only once voice that Dr. Sen be released and that his arrest was illegal.
We all know that had it not been for the Marches, Protests, Sit in programmes, Satyagrahs, Editorial positions by newspapers, broadcasting the issue in the electronic media, appeals by noble laureates etc, Binayak’s incarceration may have continued.
- Let us celebrate our SUCCESS about Dr. Sen’s release while he is in Delhi by coming in person to the meeting.
- Let us also discuss as to how to get the Central and State Government to talk PEACE with the Maoists. As well as stopping it from carrying out military action in September, in the name of Maoists which will essentially take away the lives of several innocent tribals in Chattishgarh and other States.
WE hope that you will join us on this occasion. We also hope that you will circulate this mail to all other friends in Delhi.
Committee for the Release of Dr. Binayak Sen
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Political prisoners demand release, plan hunger strike
Express News Service
HYDERABAD: The Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP) will organise a day-long dharna here on May 21 to demand unconditional release of political prisoners. It will also send a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the next day to press its demands.
Political prisoners in jails in the State are observing a hunger strike on May 20 and 21 to protest against insufficient jail rations, non-observance of jail manual, etc.
New Delhi: An evening of protest
Report by Sarojini, Deepa and Aanchal
on behalf of the Delhi Binayak Release Committee.
‘Two Years Too Much! An Evening of Protest’ was organized in Delhi on May 14, 2009 by Artists for Human Rights and the Release Binayak Campaign to mark the second anniversary of Dr. Binayak Sen’s imprisonment.
The program took place on the lawns of Rabindra Bhawan, Mandi House, New Delhi from 5.30 p.m. till 9.00 p.m.
About 450 activists, students, eminent persons, academics, filmmakers, journalists, medical professionals and artists gathered to condemn Dr. Binayak Sen’s imprisonment, the murder of NREGA activist Lalit Mehta and state suppression of the voices of human rights defenders across the country. The evening was more a cultural protest, with song and poetry interspersed with just three speeches. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Illina Sen, Kaustav Banerjee and Arundhati Roy reiterated the gross injustice and violation of democratic values by the State and Judiciary, through the continued incarceration of Dr. Binayak and the need for continued struggle to demand his release and uphold democratic values.
Poetry by Manglesh Dabral, Gauhar Raza, K. Sachitanandan and Rehan encapsulated the repression by the state, and gave voice to the pain and struggle of those caught in the judicial maze.
New Delhi: Campaign for Binayak’s release
It’s two years and the government is yet to take any step for the doctor’s release
Samarth Pathak
Delhi Hardnews
(with inputs by Saloni Bhatia)
“Kick me, shake me, you can never break me” seemed to be the punch line of the emotionally charged ‘Free Binayak’ campaign held in Delhi on May 14. It marked the second year of imprisonment of human rights defender, Dr Binayak Sen, in Chhattisgarh.
The gathering saw hundreds of social activists, friends and supporters of Sen protesting against State atrocities through songs, poetry and straight-from-the-heart speeches. Participants voiced the need for a revolution and pledged their solidarity for the cause.
It started with a rendition Bob Dylan’s eternal classic, The Times They Are A-Changin. It was performed by a group of youngsters – Ritwik, Pakhi and Tushar, and everyone joined in the chorus. This was followed by a folk song, Gulabidas’s Marjeeva, by feminist Deepta Ghosh.
Explaining the song, she said, “Marjeeva denotes the man who dives into an ocean for pearls. It tells us that a person has to struggle and suffer pain to emerge successful and better than ever. Binayak Sen is also facing a tough struggle, but I know that like the Marjeeva, he will be vindicated and get justice in the end.”
Former Chief Justice of Delhi, Rajinder Sachar, was also present. “Why are we having this show? To convince ourselves, even though we know the truth? This campaign would only be successful if awareness is created outside these walls, and people are mobilised against injustice. I am ashamed to be a part of the judiciary that has meted out an unfair sentence to Binayak Sen. If Binayak is a Naxal, so am I,” he said. Amidst thunderous applause, Sachar continued, “I appeal to everyone to start a satyagraha and a jail bharo campaign to get justice for him. I assure you that I shall be the first satyagrahi to go to jail if this happens.”
Filmmaker and poet, Gauhar Raza, stirred emotions with his poems. “Lahu mein doobe yeh haath kab tak, rahenge dharma ke chaalak? (How long will these hands, soaked in blood, be the controllers of the people and religion?)” he read.
The campaigners demanded the immediate release of Dr Sen on medical grounds, an urgent repeal of draconian laws like the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005, the UAPA (amended), 2004 and immediate action to speed up trials of people who share Sen’s fate.
Author Arundhati Roy said, “Binayak’s imprisonment is unfair and must be repealed. The state has no evidence, and to complicate things, both the Congress and the BJP are in collusion to frame Sen. I appeal to all not to be frightened and fight against this injustice. Campaigns like these are the first step. Now, we must take things forward.”
Sen, a well-known paediatrician from Christian Medical College, Vellore, was a public-spirited doctor. Dedicated towards the cause of social good, he had spent nearly three decades providing medical services to the tribals of Chhattisgarh. It’s alleged that Sen was falsely implicated by the Chhattisgarh government. He was taken as a “Naxal supporter” after he raised his voice against the war waged by the State against its own people in the name of Salwa Judum. He has been in jail since May 2007 even as his health is deteriorating. Twenty-two Nobel laureates had signed a petition and sent to the prime minister appealing for Sen’s release. As yet, nothing has been done, learnt Hardnews.
New Delhi: Invitation to Two Years, Too Much ! An Evening of Protest
Invitation TO
Two Years, Too Much !
An Evening of Protest
(To mark the second anniversary of Dr. Binayak Sen’s imprisonment)
May 14, 2009 Thursday
5.30 p.m. onwards
At
The Lawns of Rabindra Bhawan, Mandi House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi
Music
Rabbi Shergil
Dipta Bhog and Yagna
Ritwik, Tushar and Anand
Jigri
Sushmit Bose
HameedPoetry
Manglesh Dabral
Gauhar Raza
Khursheed Anwar
K. Sachitanandan
Vishnu Nagar
Sanjay KundanSpeeches
Jst.(retd.) Rajinder Sachar
Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty
Prof. Uma Chakravarthy
& other concerned citizens
On 14 May 2009 Dr Binayak Sen, well-known paediatrician and human rights defender, will complete two years in a Raipur prison on false charges of abetting Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh, sedition, and waging war against the State. This committed advocate of civil liberties has spent over three decades in the service of some of the poorest and neglected people in this country and raised his voice relentlessly against atrocities in the State of Chhattisgarh in an attempt to uphold the original values of Indian democracy. The imprisonment of Dr. Binayak Sen is symbolic of gross injustice and violation of democratic values by the State and the suppression of the voices of human rights defenders.
Please join us in this struggle to preserve our rights, liberty and freedom and show our solidarity in support of a cause that is core to democracy.
The protest in Delhi on 14th May is part of a global action for release of Dr. Binayak Sen, on the day that marks two years of his incarceration.
ARTISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS & Release Binayak Campaign
For details regarding the case and the campaign, visit:
http://www.binayaksen.net/ & http://raipursatyagraha.wordpress.com/
Govt disapproves of ‘non-state’ law enforcers like Salwa Judum
NEW DELHI: The central government might have supported Salwa Judum in the Supreme Court but for the first time home minister P Chidambaram has said the government is not in favour of such groups.
In a reply to CPI’s D Raja during question hour in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Chidambaram said, “Non-state actors should not take the responsibility of law and order.”
On Raja’s specific demand for the release of activist Binayak Sen from jail, Chidambaram said, “Dr Binayak Sen’s case is under my consideration.”
However, earlier he clarified that the Centre has nothing to do with Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh. He also said that the Salwa Judum matter is sub judice.
Chidambaram’s statement comes at a time when the Chhattisgarh government itself admitted in the apex court recently that “necessary action be ensured for rehabilitation of uninhabited families by district level rehabilitation committee…”
The state government has also said, “Necessary relief money be given in cases of properties damaged by Salwa Judum activists/security forces, besides naxalite violence, after village wise analysis.”
The state government has also said that the security forces should not be allowed to stay in school/ashram buildings, and facilities like ration distribution, healthcare and toilets in the relief camps be ensured.
Please sign the petition: Release Abhay Sahu and scrap the POSCO project!
Dear all,
Please sign and circulate widely this petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freeabhaysahu
You may
- sign on the online petition and/or
- write to the media about it and/or
- call or wirte to the Chief Minister and Governor of Orissa with the demands mentioned.
Shri Naveen Patnaik,
Chief Minister of Orissa,
Naveen Nivas, Aerodrome Road, P.O. Bhubaneswar
Distt. Khurda, Pin -751001
E-mail cmo@ori.nic.in
Office Phone 0674-2531100, 2535100, 2531500
Office Fax 0674-2400100
Residence Phone 0674-2590299Principal Secretary to the CM, BK Patnaik: 2536682, 2322164
Email: cmo@ori.nic.in
Shri M.C. Bhandare
Governor of Orissa
Raj Bhavan
Bhubaneshwar
Phone: 0674-2536111, 0674-2536582
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freeabhaysahu
Release Abhay Sahu and scrap the POSCO project!
We the undersigned strongly condemn the arrest of Abhay Sahu, the leader of the anti-POSCO movement in Orissa and condemn the attack of the Naveen Patnaik government on democratic people’s movements.
Abhay Sahu, the visionary leader of the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti was arrested unwarranted by the Orissa police near Pattamundai in Jagtsingpur district in the evening on 12 October 2008 on his return from the hospital after a medical check-up. The same night he was sent to the Central Jail in Choudwar in Cuttack district. Despite his fragile health condition, he was not given any medical help till the evening of 15 October 2008.
The motive of the state government behind Abhay Sahu’s arrest can clearly be seen as an attempt to repress people’s fight over their traditional and constitutional rights to lands and livelihoods and to divert public attention from attacks on Christians in the state so that it goes on unabated.
Citizen’s Statement Against Terrorism and Communal Violence
In recent months the country has witnessed a spate of terrorist attacks in different cities as well as organised communal violence against religious minorities in several states.
We the undersigned strongly condemn all these acts of violence that have resulted in loss of life and grievous injury to scores of innocent people. It is clear that whoever is responsible for such violence should be severely punished under Indian law and all measures be taken to protect the lives of ordinary citizens under threat from their activities.
We find it deeply disturbing however that the Indian government as well as concerned state governments have adopted double standards in dealing with the two equally deadly phenomenon of terrorist bombings and communal violence.
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Arundhati Roy, rights activists rally around freed Chhattisgarh filmmaker
Express news service
Posted online: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 0047 hrs IST
New Delhi, August 12
“It’s not the first or the last time someone has been arrested in Chhattisgarh,” said human rights lawyer Vrinda Grover, setting the tone for a public meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Tuesday to mark the release of documentary filmmaker and journalist Ajay T G.
On May 5, Ajay was arrested and sent to jail by the Chhattisgarh police on allegations of involvement with Naxals and sedition against the Indian Government. When the police failed to find any evidence to support these charges within the mandatory 90 days period, Ajay was granted statutory bail and released on August 5. Yet despite being unable to file a chargesheet, the police have not closed the case against him.
After spending 93 days in prison, Ajay said, “I still don’t feel free. And I’m not the only one, there are so many more imprisoned like me.” His bail conditions require him to report to the police station every second Monday.
Warned by the police not to travel to Delhi or speak to the press, Ajay and his wife, Shobha, attended Tuesday’s meeting at their own risk.
Although the family lives in fear of retaliation from the state, said Shobha, “we were excited about the opportunity to come to Delhi and speak out”.
Led by the Committee for the Release of Ajay T G, human rights activists, journalists and writer Arundhati Roy were among those who spoke of the wider ramifications of his arrest.
Based on her research in Chhattisgarh, Nandani Sundar, sociology professor at the University of Delhi, spoke of the climate of fear in the state as a result of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security (CSPS) Act, 2006, and on the blackout of the violence perpetrated by the Salwa Judum. Speaking at the event, independent law researcher Usha Ramanathan said: “Critiquing this law, as we are now, is illegal under the CSPS, a clear indication we’re moving away from the rights of people.”
Following the meeting, Ajay T G’s film on the life and work of Dr Binayak Sen, who was also arrested under the CSPS Act, on 14 May 2007, was screened. In a fitting concluding note, Sen’s wife, Ilina, said, “We cannot individualise cases, we have to look beyond this.”
Binayaksen.net is one of many 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. 
