After almost 2 years Dr. Binayak sen has been granted bail by the supreme court of India. The bench of the court took less than a minute to decide. This raises doubt on all the allegation against him by the government and the state police. Though he will still have to stand the trial but he can breath some fresh air and work for the cause he was working for.
Media awareness regarding his case has worked in his favor otherwise he would have lost his life like his mentor Shankar Guha Neogi in 1991. These people are not actively supporting violence and the naxal movement in the region and they have ideological difference but they support the same cause - development of the area.
The state has responsibility to take care of the development of the people of these areas but they have failed for decades if not centuries. In fact, even the government owned Bhilai steel plant is as bad as any private industrialist plant in treating the local people - adivasis. Situation is bad and there is anger that is fueling the growth of the naxalites in the area. Government needs tougher law to tackle the problem at the moment but this liberty should not be misused. Government need to work on two fronts. First, it makes to sure that the development projects are implemented in the area with the support of local people that will stop the growth of naxal movement. Secondly, it need to have transparent enforcement of law against the accused of naxal movement. It can not have law to shield itself and detain someone for almost two years without any proper charge. Government may arrest people on suspicion of anti-nation activities but it can not deny all the rights for years to the accused in the name national security. At the same time, government needs to look into its policies as well. By killing or holding people behind the bar can not stop these movement. As Mr. Neogi recorded in his message just before his assassination
"This world is beautiful and I certainly love this beautiful world but my work and my responsibilities are important for me. I have to fulfill the responsibilities I have taken up. These people will kill me but by killing none can stop our movement."
After his release, Dr. Binayak may ask for an apology or compensation from the state government but it is unlikely that he will be interested in wasting his time in these legal activities. For him his cause are above personal sufferings. Supreme court ruling must have given some hope to continue working again under the constitutional boundaries. He has gained some recognition at national and international level that he can utilise to push for demands and needs of the local people.
He might be guilty of arranging bails for the naxal leaders but that can not be cause for making a judgement against him. We need to revive our laws for forest and the people living there. As our industries destroying the forests in the same region are appreciated for development but a poor adivasi taking bunch of bamboos for cooking food is asked for bribe by the forest official or face the jail for destroying the environment.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment