http://www.binayaksen.net/2011/04/binayak-sen%E2%80%99s-release-hailed/
Binayak Sen’s release hailed<http://www.binayaksen.net/2011/04/binayak-sen%e2%80%99s-release-hailed/> POSTED AT APRIL 15, 2011 // PRESS REPORTS<http://www.binayaksen.net/info/press-reports/> <http://www.binayaksen.net/2011/04/binayak-sen%E2%80%99s-release-hailed/> PTI Friends, family members and Union Ministers on Friday hailed the Supreme Court order granting bail to rights activist Binayak Sen, with his lawyer Ram Jethmalani saying the verdict is an endorsement of the right to freedom of speech as “a principle of democracy”. Union Ministers P. Chidambaram and Salman Khurshid expressed happiness over the court decision to release Mr. Sen, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of sedition by a Chhattisgarh Court for helping Naxals set up a network, while Law Minister M Veerappa Moily termed it as an “eye opener” for the state government. “’Satyameva Jayete’ (truth alone triumphs)…. My faith in the judicial system is restored,” said Mr. Sen’s ailing mother Anasuya, 84, in West Bengal’s Nadia district, pointing that the verdict coincided with the Bengali New Year. Describing her son as “a Gandhian,” she said that he “never believed in violence”. Senior counsel Ram Jethmalani, who argued before the apex court for bail to Mr. Sen, said, “I must confess this is one of the cases where I am personally very happy about what has happened in the Supreme Court. “It almost establishes a matter of great principle of democracy that everybody has right to exercise his right to freedom of speech. “Sen is not involved in any kind of violence nor has he fed anyone to resort to violence,” said Mr. Jethmalani and added, “Literature is available at everybody’s home and I’ll tell you there is much more dangerous literature at my house.” “Politicians must understand these things but it is unfortunate that they don’t,” said Mr. Jethmalani emphasising that mere possession of literature does not make one Maoist. Echoing his views, Mr. Sen’s wife Ilina cited the observation by one of the judges on the bench that mere possession of Gandhian literature does not make one a Gandhian. “I thank the judges who commented that finding works of Gandhiji with someone does not make the person a Gandhian.” said Ms. Ilina, adding that she felt extremely relieved after the apex court order. “The judgment by the trial court was unfortunate. I would not say that I had lost faith in the legal system, but it makes you feel tired and run out of patience,” she said and claimed the charges against him were “ridiculous”. Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said, “It is an eye opener. Chhattishgarh government should have applied its mind objectively and properly without any prejudices. And when the case is in the highest court of the country, it is all the more reasons to be more careful.” Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said that his government “respects” the Supreme Court’s decision. “Supreme Court has only granted him the bail. The pending legal process will continue in High Court at Bilaspur. Whatever the final verdict be, we will respect that decision too,” the chief minister of the BJP ruled state said. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
