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Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday expressed surprise over the statement made by wife of jailed rights activist Binayak Sen, who had said that she did not feel safe in the country.
Answering questions about the judgement sentencing Sen to life imprisonment on sedition charges, Chidambaram said the judgement may be unsatisfactory for many people but the only way to 'correct' it was by filing an appeal.
"Binayak Sen has been convicted by a court of law. That judgement according to many people is an unsatisfactory judgement. It may be unsatisfactory but the only way that judgement can be corrected is by filing an appeal," he said.
He said at the instance of Sen, "I persuaded the chief minister of Chhattisgarh (Raman Singh) to ensure that the trial takes place at least few days a week. Earlier, it was taking place one day a month or one day in two weeks".
"So, Binayak Sen expressed his happiness that the trial will now take place quickly. The trial has ended in a conviction. As I said, it may be an unsatisfactory judgement but both as a lawyer and a minister, I want to tell everyone that the only way an unsatisfactory judgement can be corrected is by going in appeal. There is no other way," he said.
The minister recalled what he had said when the Srikrishna report on Telangana issue was submitted -- that those who respect democracy must also respect the processes of democracy and similarly "those who respect law must also respect the processes of law."
On being asked further questions on the same issue, he said, "I have not seen the evidence so I can't comment on the judgement, but if it is an unsatisfactory judgement as many make it out to be, I am sure it will be corrected in appeal."
On being asked about the apprehensions of Sen's wife, he said, "I have read it in the newspapers. I am very sorry that she entertains such apprehensions".
"I intend to talk to the chief minister of Chhattisgarh or wherever she is, and if she has any genuine apprehensions and if she wants assistance, certainly we will provide assistance. There is no reason why Mrs Sen or any other member of her family should feel apprehensive in India," said the home minister
Ilina Sen had claimed before the media on Monday that it appeared that the only recourse left to her was to seek political asylum in some 'liberal' democratic country as she felt that her family was not safe in her own country.