Binayak Sen slams sedition laws
May 30th, 2011 - 11:37 pm ICT by IANSMumbai, May 30 (IANS) Rights and public health activist Binayak Sen Monday termed sedition laws in the country as “draconian” and said these are often misused to “suppress the voice of the people”.
“The UK does not have a sedition law, but we have it. It was brought to India by the British and we are still continuing it,” Sen said at a crowded media interaction at the Bombay Press Club.
He said that the sedition laws were draconian and often misused to smother the voice of the people agitating for genuine public causes.
Sen said that his group, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, had discussed the issue in detail and launched a public campaign on sedition laws.
Before the winter session of parliament, one million signatures of people opposing sedition laws would be collected and handed over to the concerned authorities, he said.
Discussing public health, Sen said the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau and the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, have released figures which show that 37 percent of the total Indian adult population have a BMI (body mass index) below 18.5.
Referring to the anti-graft Lokpal Bill, Sen said that “we need an agency of Lokpal to check corruption and it is essential”.
He said that it would not be an answer to corruption but it would be an item in the armoury to fight corruption.
- Binayak Sen plans campaign against sedition law - Sep 12, 2011
- Binayak Sen unjustifiably prosecuted: Amartya Sen - Jan 08, 2011
- Sen conviction 'a case of no evidence', Jethmalani tells court - Jan 24, 2011
- Agnivesh to discuss Maoist talks with Hazare Saturday - Apr 15, 2011
- Repeal sedition laws: Activists - Jan 30, 2012
- Rights activist Binayak Sen convicted, arrested (Lead) - Dec 24, 2010
- Government will be forced to release my son, says Binayak's mother - Jan 21, 2011
- Northeast group wants case against Binayak Sen withdrawn - Dec 29, 2010
- Lokpal debate for 7 hours, can be extended: Speaker - Aug 27, 2011
- Binayak Sen convicted; family, activists furious (Second Lead) - Dec 24, 2010
- Binayak Sen awarded human rights prize - Apr 22, 2011
- Shun parties opposing anti-graft law: Activists - Feb 26, 2011
- Lokpal bill could create a 'Gaddafi': Thackeray - Dec 15, 2011
- Don't feel safe in Chhattisgarh any more: Illina Sen - Jan 03, 2011
- Binayak Sen, two others get life term; family, activists furious (Third Lead) - Dec 24, 2010
Tags: adult population, anti graft, armoury, binayak sen, bmi body mass index, body mass index, civil liberties, corruption, hyderabad, indian adult, media interaction, national institute of nutrition, national nutrition, one million, public campaign, s union, sedition law, sedition laws, slams, winter session