Bilkis Bano Case: Hours after the Supreme Court struck down the Gujarat government's order granting remission to 11 convicts who had gangraped Bilkis Bano and murdered her family members, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the verdict shows once again who the "protector of criminals" is. In the day, the apex court said that the Gujarat government abused its power in granting remission to the men convicted of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and murdering her family members during the 2002 riots. It also ordered that they be sent to jail within two weeks.
In a post in Hindi on 'X', Gandhi said, "The tendency to 'murder justice' for electoral gains is dangerous for a democratic system. Today, the Supreme Court's decision once again showed the country who gives 'patronage to criminals'."
"Bilkis Bano's tireless struggle symbolises the victory of justice against the arrogant BJP government," the former Congress chief added.
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the order of the apex court and demanded that the BJP governments in Gujarat and at the Centre apologise to her. The Hyderabad MP noted that the Supreme Court, in its order, observed that the state of Gujarat acted in complicity with convicts.
"I welcome the Supreme Court order and hope that it will act as a precedent against all rapists in future. The rapists should understand that just because they affirm a political ideology which is inimical to the Constitution of India they will not be released," he said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said justice has ultimately prevailed.
"With this order, the veil over the anti-women policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party has been removed. After this, public confidence in the justice system will be further strengthened. Congratulations to Bilkis Bano for continuing her fight bravely," she said in a post in Hindi on 'X'.
The Congress' media and publicity head, Pawan Khera, said the Supreme Court judgment quashing the release of the 11 rapists by the Gujarat government "exposes the BJP's callous disregard for women".
"It is a slap on the face of those who facilitated the illegal release of these criminals and also those who garlanded the convicts and fed sweets to them...," Khera said.
The Supreme Court clarified that the state where an offender is tried and sentenced is the one competent to decide on their remission plea. The convicts in the Bilkis Bano case were tried in Maharashtra. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots.
All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, 2022.
(With input from agencies)