Case against daughter-in-law unfair, says Binayak Sen’s mother

KOLKATA - Jailed rights activist Binayak Sen’s mother Tuesday termed as “unfair” the police case against his wife Ilina for allegedly not informing the security forces about the participation of foreigners in a conference she had organised in Maharashtra. She also said she was confident her son would be out of jail soon.

“It is unfair. Now they are after my daughter-in-law Ilina,” said Anasua Sen.

Maharashtra Police filed a case against Ilina under the Foreigners’ Act after three foreign delegates participated at the 13th National Conference for the Indian Association of Women’s Studies (IAWS) at the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University in Wardha. The four-day conference ended Monday.

“There was a conference on women’s studies that three foreign delegates attended. On that ground, she has become a suspect. It is very unfair for the family,” said Anasua.

She alleged that the case against her son was built up only to send him behind bars.

“My son does not believe in the Naxalite ideology, but he always taught people to stand up for their rights. People in the tribal belt also want to lead proper and comfortable life. But they are not allowed to.”

However, Anasua exuded confidence that with the national and international media extending collective support to Sen, the government would not be able to keep him imprisoned for long.

Sen alleged that neo-liberalisation has spawned a group of middle-class people who were only interested in the share market and money-making ventures.

“They think my son is an enemy of the country. Again there are intelligent middle class people with a sense of value who have supported my son. I am confident that one day he will come out of prison.”

She said Sen had gone to meet Maoist leader Narayan Sanyal because as a medical student he had taken an oath that he will treat every patient.

“My son believed in that and for that with the permission of the government he visited Narayan Sanyal in jail when he was unwell. I ask those who are against my son whether they think Narayan Sanyal should have been denied treatment because he was a naxalite?”

Sen, 59, is at present lodged in a jail in Raipur after he was sentenced to life term by a trial court in Raipur Dec 24 on sedition charges over his links with Maoist ideologue Narayan Sanyal. He has appealed against the verdict.