Rights activist and paediatrician Binayak Sen has accepted an offer by the Planning Commission to be a member of its steering committee on health that will provide inputs for the 12th Plan (2012-2017). Sen, a recipient of the Jonathan Mann award for global health in 2008, said he would strive to bring “equity” in health-related issues for deprived communities. The doctor was granted bail by the Supreme Court last month after the Chhattisgarh high court convicted him of sedition for Maoist links and sentenced him to life imprisonment. “I’ll do whatever I can... I will surely attend the first meeting of the committee. I would like to bring on board and work for ensuring further equity in health-related issues for deprived communities,” Sen told agencies over phone from Chhattisgarh. His mother Anasuya hailed the “good news”. “I’m happy. He has been accused by the state of being anti-national, but the Centre has given him a prestigious post on the Plan panel.” The 40-member steering committee on health is expected to hold its first meeting on May 25 or 26. Sen’s appointment was announced by Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. “We have appointed Binayak Sen as member of the steering committee on health to advice for 12th Plan. It was the Planning Commission’s proposal to appoint him,” Ahluwalia said.
Main opposition BJP took exception to the inclusion of Dr Binayak Sen in the Planning Commission’s steering panel on health. It asked a pointed question to the government: whether the Centre has made it a habit of rewarding those who allege victimization by a BJP-led state government. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad drew a parallel between Sen’s new role and that of Kuldeep Sharma, a Gujarat cadre IPS officer, who is involved in a legal tussle with Narendra Modi’s government. Sharma was recently appointed additional DGP in Bureau of Police Research and Development. “Sen is entitled to legal redress, but we want to ask the government if this is symptomatic of a pattern. Whosoever alleges victimization by a BJP state government will be almost immediately rewarded by the Centre. If this indeed is the case, the situation is worrisome,” Prasad said. “The government must ask itself what is the tradition it is trying to establish by Sen’s appointment and whether it is good for democracy and the whole federal structure,” he added. The Chhattisgarh HC charged him with sedition for allegedly harbouring Left-wing extremism in the state.
Main opposition BJP took exception to the inclusion of Dr Binayak Sen in the Planning Commission’s steering panel on health. It asked a pointed question to the government: whether the Centre has made it a habit of rewarding those who allege victimization by a BJP-led state government. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad drew a parallel between Sen’s new role and that of Kuldeep Sharma, a Gujarat cadre IPS officer, who is involved in a legal tussle with Narendra Modi’s government. Sharma was recently appointed additional DGP in Bureau of Police Research and Development. “Sen is entitled to legal redress, but we want to ask the government if this is symptomatic of a pattern. Whosoever alleges victimization by a BJP state government will be almost immediately rewarded by the Centre. If this indeed is the case, the situation is worrisome,” Prasad said. “The government must ask itself what is the tradition it is trying to establish by Sen’s appointment and whether it is good for democracy and the whole federal structure,” he added. The Chhattisgarh HC charged him with sedition for allegedly harbouring Left-wing extremism in the state.
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