I have been myself a victim of sedition law. In 1985, the Government of India launched proceedings against me under Section 124a (sedition) and 505b of Indian Penal Code simply on the basis of an article, namely ‘Secularism vis-a-vis Hindu Chauvinism’, published in Radiance Viewsweekly, Delhi. The other accused were late Mr. Ameenul Hasan Rizvi (Editor) and Mr. Iqbal Waraqwala (Publisher). The case continued for 15 years at Tees Hazari Court, Delhi. After acquittal, I wrote a book Secular Horror – A Real Story of Fifteen Years Ordeal with Indian Secularism, which was published by Pharos Media, Abul Fazl Enclave, New Delhi. It is available in almost all the Libraries of the world.
So nobody can understand the pains of Section 124a of Indian Penal Code better than me. May Mr. Binayak Sen be saved from the clutches of this most draconian section and the state barbarities committed under it!
Dr. Mustafa Kamal Sherwani
Lucknow, U.P.