The SC verdict quashing the Gujarat government’s order granting remission to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case has been hailed by the Opposition parties, which urged the BJP to apologise to Bano. The opposition also accused the BJP government of aiding the premature release of the convicts.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi minced no words in attacking the Home Ministry and the Gujarat government, stating that the verdict shows BJP can deny justice to a woman only to win elections. "'Save the daughter' became 'Save the culprit'! The decision of the Supreme Court in the Bilkis Bano case is the restoration of justice. It exposes the misdeeds of the Home Ministry of the Modi Government and the Gujarat Government," Kharge posted in Hindi on X.
Rahul Gandhi said the verdict has shown once again who the "protector of criminals" is. 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.
Other INDIA bloc members, TMC, CPI-M, IUML, National Conference and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) also took on BJP, alleging that it misused its powers to give remission to 11 men, convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven members of her family during the 2002 riots, for political gains.
While the TMC said the verdict was a slap on the BJP's face, party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the court verdict as "strong and bold".
"I am grateful to the Supreme Court for this strong and bold judgment. It proves that the rapists were moving freely and enjoying power," she said at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also called the verdict a "hard slap" on the face of the state government and the "nailing down the Gujarat government's illegal action". "Governments are constitutional entities and if they act in violation of the jurisdiction and considerations of law, it will play havoc with our very existence as a democracy," the party said.
Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party said, "Today, Bilkis Bano finally got justice. The remission decision exposes BJP's stand to talk about Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, blowing the trumpet of bringing Women's Reservation Bill on one hand and shielding the people who unleash atrocities on women on the other hand."
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday demanded that the BJP-ruled Central and the Gujarat state governments immediately apologise to Bilkis Bano for their support to the rapists and killers. "The BJP," he said, "stands exposed after having endorsed the release of the convicts."
