Government will be forced to release my son, says Binayak's mother

"Several rights bodies across the country are demonstrating and demanding my son's immediate and unconditional release. I do believe that all their efforts will collectively stimulate a wave upon the government to release Binayak," Anusua Sen told IANS over phone.

A day before Christmas, the Raipur district and sessions court found Binayak Sen, 59, and vice-president of the People's Union for Civil Liberties, guilty of sedition and links with Maoists. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, drawing widespread condemnation including from Amnesty International.

"I still have some faith within myself that they (governments) will not be able to keep him behind bars for long, but we have to wait for some more time," Anusua said.She also said that her family was looking forward to Jan 24, when the hearing for his bail petition is likely to be held at Chhattisgarh High Court.

"We are all waiting for the outcome of the hearing. I would have liked to be physically present, but my younger son and Binayak's wife Illina asked me to stay back because of my ill health," she added.The bail petition was filed earlier this month.