RSS flays Binayak Sen's supporters for questioning court order

RSS has criticised the "bizarre exhibition of outrage" by supporters of rights activist Binayak Sen over his sentencing for links with Maoists and described as "outrageous" their action of questioning the court's judgement in December.

RSS has criticised the "bizarre exhibition of outrage" by supporters of rights activist Binayak Sen over his sentencing for links with Maoists and described as "outrageous" their action of questioning the court's judgement in December.

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"What is it that these men and women are protesting? Do they want us to believe that Binayak Sen, because he is Binayak Sen, is above the law of the land...?," an editorial in the outfit's mouthpiece said in the January edition.

"... That, no court, no authority has the right to prosecute him irrespective of how criminally he is involved with Maoists?", it said.

Speaking out in support of Sen, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat had a few days ago described the court verdict as "a bad judgement and misuse of sedition charge".

Intellectuals like novelist Arundhati Roy, actress Aparna Sen, National Advisory Council (NAC) member Aruna Roy, and activist Medha Patkar have also demanded Sen's release.

Flaying Sen's supporters, the RSS said, "his friends are openly questioning the judge and the judiciary, accusing the judge of bias and political predilections".

"See the manner in which the NAC, Sonia Gandhi's handpicked men and women in the UPA government has reacted to the Raipur court verdict. Are they trying to intimidate or undermine the judiciary?" the editorial asked.

60-year-old Sen specialised as a paediatrician and was the national Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

He was sentenced to life on December 24 along with Maoist ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata based businessman Piyush Guha.