Free Binayak Sen: Meeting to express solidarity and concern

In the middle of the music season and the new year holiday spirit reaching a crescendo, it was a surprise to see a gathering of people on a social issue in the city.  The meeting at SPACES, 1 Elliots Beach Road attracted several literary, media, theatre, music and film personalities apart from social and political activists numbering more than 100, on 29th evening. The meeting seemed to have been convened by Sadananda Menon and Sashikumar of Asian College of Journalism.

Sadananda Menon, welcomed the gathering expressing concern about the ruling of the Court against the human rights activits, Dr Binayak Sen. He also mentioned that the famous dancer Chandralekha would have been proud that this meeting was held in this venue and she would have gladly signed the petition seeking the release of Dr. Sen.

Suresh, President of PUCL, Tamilnadu and one of the National Secretary of PUCL outlined the case against Dr. Sen and the obvious gaps in the ruling awarded by the judge. He emphasized that this case got much prominence due to the 'high profile' nature of Dr. Sen, however, there are several such cases registered against lesser known activists who fight for human rights and civil rights issues across central India in several states. He said that this case has brought several groups and people together in solidarity, however, the larger issue needs to be addressed using this gathering. He also mentioned that PUCL will be coordinating the meetings.

Geetha Dharmarajan, a prominent city based lawyer remembered a case of sedition being brought against Chandralekha three decades ago and how a few words in the lobby with her was scrutinized by the intelligence authorities. She mentioned that there was a need to look beyond this case and understand that the nation was slipping into a state where there seemed to be a continuous action against activists.

Ramesh from Amnesty International echoed he sentiments expressed by the two speakers and added that Amnesty had endorsed the appeal against the sentence and how they have declared Dr. Sen as a prisoner of conscience. 

A poem written in honour read out by a young poet and a impromptu performance of chitra veena by an artiste completed the evening meeting. A press meet in solidarity has been organized at the Press Club on the 30th at 3 p.m. and another meeting has been organized by PUCL on 30th evening at 5.30 p.m. at C.D. Nayagam Thiyagaraya Nagar Hr. Sec. School, Venkatnarayana Road, T. Nagar, Chennai.

If you haven't signed the petition seeking the release of Dr. Sen, you can do so by clicking  here, more than 5000 people have signed this petition so far in less than a week from across the globe.
Later: A news report on the same meeting appearing in the HINDU here