Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday, August 17, sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to rescind the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the case relating to Bilkis Bano’s gangrape and murder of her kin during the 2002 riots. In a tweet, KTR said, “Dear PM @narendramodi Ji, If you had really meant what you spoke about Respecting women, urge you to intervene & rescind the Gujarat Govt remission order releasing 11 Rapists Sir, it is nauseating to put it mildly & against MHA order. Need you to show sagacity to the Nation."
All the 11 life imprisonment convicts in the case were released as per the remission policy prevalent in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008. The Telangana Minister for Industries and IT also asked the PM to make necessary amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) suitably so that no rapist can get bail through the judiciary.
“Sir, I also urge you to make necessary amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) & The Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) suitably so that no Rapist can get a bail through judiciary. Strong legislations are the only way to ensure Judiciary can deliver swiftly & perform at its best,” he said in another tweet.
Dear PM @narendramodi Ji,
— KTR (@KTRTRS) August 17, 2022
If you had really meant what you spoke about Respecting women, urge you to intervene & rescind the Gujarat Govt remission order releasing 11 Rapists
Sir, it is nauseating to put it mildly & against MHA order. Need you to show sagacity to the Nation
The 2014 remission policy superseded the 1992 policy on SC’s orders. Gujarat govt itself admitted that after a 2012 SC order, the 1992 policy had to be changed as it wasn’t consistent with the law anymore. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/I7L02Nokgz
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 17, 2022
AIMIM chief Asadudddin Owaisi had on Tuesday slammed the release of those convicted for rape and murder in the Bilkis Bano case post-Godhra riots. He said PM Modi talked about women's empowerment in his Independence Day speech and questioned what example is being given with the release of the convicts.
"He said something about supporting 'Nari Shakti'. Gujarat BJP govt released criminals convicted of gang rape on the same day. The message is clear," Owaisi tweeted. He also noted on Wednesday, “The 2014 remission policy superseded the 1992 policy on SC’s orders. Gujarat govt itself admitted that after a 2012 SC order, the 1992 policy had to be changed as it wasn’t consistent with the law anymore.”
Several Opposition parties have hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the release of the convicts within hours of his praise for "Nari Shakti" in the Independence Day speech and alleged this is the "real face" of 'New India" under the BJP. They said the remission for the convicts, serving life imprisonment for the gang rape of a pregnant Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members, was a violation of the Union government’s guidelines and demanded the withdrawal of the order. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said Modi should tell the country if he himself believed in his words when he spoke about the safety, respect and empowerment of women.
In a tweet, the CPI(M) condemned the release of the convicts, saying, "This is the real face of New India -- convicted killers and rapists released" and activist Teesta Setalvad "who fought for justice was jailed". Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale said Bilkis Bano was "raped in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom and her entire family was murdered and buried in a mass grave".
Comrade Brinda Karat Writes:
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) August 17, 2022
Suppose for a minute the name of the woman was not Bilkis Bano. https://t.co/kIVxuXgeHv
Bilkis Bano was raped in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom & her entire family was murdered & buried in a mass grave.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) August 16, 2022
Gujarat govt has now released all 11 monsters who were convicted of this heinous crime.
Where’s the outrage by people & the Noida media? Not even a whimper. pic.twitter.com/Nf7HTFZ9dP
"Gujarat govt has now released all 11 monsters who were convicted of this heinous crime. Where's the outrage by people & the Noida media? Not even a whimper," he tweeted. Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish Ali also referred to the Prime Minister's remarks and said the release of the 11 convicts has exposed the huge gap between words and the spirit of justice.
“We have developed an ill habit of insulting women by our words and actions”.
— Kunwar Danish Ali (@KDanishAli) August 16, 2022
The release of 11 convicts in #BilqisBano case, in the name of remission policy, has exposed the huge gap in our words and the spirit of justice. The world is watching but who cares in ‘New India’??? pic.twitter.com/HMhl0dsHxH
Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang raped while fleeing the violence that broke out post the Sabarmati train burning incident in Godhra. Seven members of her family were killed during the 2002 post-Godhra riots. The ruling BJP on Tuesday faced the Opposition fire over the release of the 11 convicts, while its government in Gujarat defended the move citing a 1992 remission policy and denied any violation of rules in the matter.
Bilkis Bano's husband Yakub Rasul expressed surprise over the relief granted to them. After their release on completion of over 15 years in jail, the convicts, who were also charged with killing the pregnant woman's three-year-old daughter, were welcomed with sweets and garlands outside the prison. A special CBI court in Mumbai in 2008 sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano's family. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.
"We don't know when the convicts processed their application and which ruling the state government took into consideration. We never received any kind of notice,” Rasul said. He said the Gujarat government had paid the family a compensation of Rs 50 lakh as directed by the Supreme Court but is yet to provide a job or a house as directed by the apex court. Rasul said he lives virtually in hiding with his wife and five sons, the eldest one 20 years old.