Chhattisgarh right activists protest Binayak Sen’s conviction
December 31st, 2010 - 11:45 pm ICT by IANS
Raipur, Dec 31 (IANS) Right activists and workers of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (CMM) held a rally and staged a sit-in Friday here to extend support to activist Binayak Sen, who was sentenced to life by a local court here last week. It was the first protest rally by rights activists in Chhattisgarh since Sen was convicted on sedition charges Dec 24. The activists and left party workers mainly targeted state’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government for “trapping Sen on trumped up charges as he raised voice against rights abuses in the state”.
The protesters also sought immediate repeal of controversial Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and Sen’s unconditional release.
Addressing the rally, CPI national executive member Chhittaranjan Bakshi said the state government was using the “draconian” Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act to target those who did not toe the government line against Maoists. He added that several CPI workers were targeted by state government in restive Bastar in recent months for raising voices against police excesses with tribal civilians.
Meanwhile, the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist has given a call to observe a country-wide protest week from Jan 2-8 against the court judgement, convicting Sen, Maoist ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata based businessman Piyush Guha.
- Maoists begin week-long protest against Sen conviction - Jan 02, 2011
- Prisoners extend support to Binayak Sen in Bihar - Jan 01, 2011
- Tight security in Raipur for court ruling on Sen (Lead) - Dec 23, 2010
- Rally in Chhattisgarh supports Binayak Sen - Jan 31, 2011
- Apex court notice to Chhattisgarh on Binayak associate's bail (Lead) - May 24, 2011
- Apex court hearing on Binayak Sen's bail put off till Friday (Lead) - Apr 11, 2011
- Supreme Court adjourns Binayak Sen's bail plea till Friday - Apr 11, 2011
- Binayak Sen case timeline - Dec 24, 2010
- Maoist protest hits life in Chhattisgarh (Lead) - Jan 02, 2011
- Bengal Left hails Sen's bail - Apr 15, 2011
- Supreme Court grants bail to Binayak's associate - May 31, 2011
- Supreme Court grants bail to Binayak's associate (Lead) - May 31, 2011
- Binayak Sen walks out of jail, says I am no traitor - Apr 19, 2011
- Chhattisgarh lawyers, politicians silent on Sen verdict - Dec 25, 2010
- Binayak Sen gets life, angry activists vow appeal (Roundup) - Dec 24, 2010
Tags: activists protest, bastar, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, court judgement, cpi workers, government line, ideologue, local court, maoist, maoists, narayan, national executive member, party government, police excesses, protest rally, public security, security act, sedition charges, unconditional release