Chhattisgarh BJP launches offensive against Binayak Sen

Monday May 16, 2011 03:18:44 PM, IANS

Raipur: Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched an offensive against rights activist and physician Binayak Sen after the Planning Commission made him a member on a key committee.

A senior government official confirmed that neither Chief Minister Raman Singh nor his ministerial colleagues would attend the plan panel meetings. Sen was convicted on charges of sedition by a trial court here for alleged links with Maoists, raising a hue and cry in civil society and was finally granted bail by the Supreme Court.

"The decision is purely a move to protest the appointment of Sen in the plan panel because he has not been cleared of sedition and is currently just out on a bail granted by the Supreme Court," the official informed.

BJP sources say the state party unit has decided to step up the offensive against Sen for his inclusion in the plan panel.

"The party is dead against the nomination of a person (Sen) in the plan panel who was convicted for sedition. We will hold a series of peaceful protest meetings," a senior party leader said.

The BJP state unit medical cell staged a sit-in already here Sunday where its officebearers asked the plan panel to reconsider its decision.

The Planning Commission has nominated Sen as a member of its Steering Committee on Health.

The trial court here had convicted Sen for sedition in December for his links with Maoists. Sen had moved against the conviction in Chhattisgarh High Court based in Bilaspur town and also sought bail but the court rejected his bail in February though the Supreme Court granted him bail last month.



 

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Deaths as Israeli troops open fire on Palestinians observing Nakba Day

At least one Palestinian has been killed and up to 80 others wounded in northern Gaza as Israeli troops opened fire on a march of at least 1,000   »

Making a stand for human rights and dignity in Gaza

Thousands protest for Palestinian right of return

  Most Read

Saudi envoy killed in Pakistan, Gilani condemns attack

A Saudi diplomat was killed in Pakistan Monday when unidentified gunmen attacked his vehicle in Karachi city, Xinhua reported. The unidentified gunmen shot dead the Saudi envoy in an   »

Libyan military spokesman killed in NATO raid

Colonel Milad Hussein al-Fiqhi, spokesman of the Libyan forces led by Muammar Gaddafi, was killed Sunday in a NATO raid that targeted an intelligence building in the capital Tripoli, Al Arabiya news channel reported. "Colonel Fiqhi is most probably responsible for the crimes that took place in Zawiyah   »

  News Pick

Kashmir holds peaceful panchayat polls

People exercised their franchise peacefully yet again in the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls Monday, with women voters in particular turning out in large numbers in the ninth phase of the elections. A total  »

BJP fears central rule in Karnataka, writes to president

Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) late Sunday said it apprehends that Governor H.R. Bhardwaj has sought the dismissal of its government here  »

BJP claims majority in Karnataka, governor sends special report

Mamata all set to be West Bengal's first woman chief minister

Moving a step closer to becoming West Bengal's first woman chief minister  »

Lucky for some! Mamata added to list of 13 women chief ministers

Jayalalithaa to be sworn in chief minister Monday

AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa Sunday met Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala to stake her   »

Jayalalithaa: Tamil Nadu's iron woman is chief minister once more

Mahendra Singh Tikait: A doyen of farmer’s movement in India

The character of farmer’s movements has been a matter of considerable debate since the 1970s and  »

Farmer leader Tikait dies

Picture of the Day

Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari addresses after releasing the special issue of “Think India” quarterly on Faiz Ahmad Faiz, in New Delhi on May 10, 2011. Also seen in the picture is Member Planning Commission Dr Syeda Hameed among others.

(Photo: Hansraj)