When women’s groups and rights activists raised their voice against this arbitrary exemption, the decision fits neatly into the political paradigm of the BJP.
When women’s groups and rights activists raised their voice against this arbitrary exemption, the decision fits neatly into the political paradigm of the BJP.
“…the appellant was repeatedly gang-raped and was a silent and helpless witness in the murder of her three-and-a-half year old daughter. This factual position in the light of the findings of the High Court and the lower court recognized by this Court Indisputable and indisputable.…[she] She is without any home and lives with her daughter who was born after the incident. He is forced to live as a nomad and an orphan, and after losing the company of his family members, can barely sustain himself on NGO donations. The gruesome and gruesome acts of violence have left an indelible mark on his mind which will continue to torment and cripple him.“- Supreme Court’s decision of 23 April 2019, a reward of ₹ 50 lakh in compensation to Bilkis Yakub Rasool alias Bilkis Bano
The facts are not in dispute here. After a long and arduous road, following the intervention of the Supreme Court, in January 2008 a judge in Mumbai sentenced 11 people to life imprisonment for the murder of 14 innocent persons and the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano himself. In May 2017, the Bombay High Court had upheld the decision.
The case (along with several others) was transferred out of Gujarat on the orders of the Supreme Court in 2004, when several activists pointed out that there was little prospect of a fair investigation into it and other cases of riots and murder, which followed the burning. Had happened. Trained at Godhra, Gujarat in February 2002.
This month, three years after the Supreme Court pointed out the dire condition of Bilkis Bano, the Gujarat government facilitated remission of sentence and acquitted 11 convicts.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power in Gujarat during the February–March 2002 killings and the announcement of exemptions. The exemption came after a Supreme Court order on May 13, 2022, ordering that an application for the premature release of convicts be decided in a period of two months under the Gujarat government’s exemption policy of 1992. Interestingly, the May 13 order made no mention of the serious nature of the offenses for which the men were convicted.
not enough clarity
Bilkis Bano during a press conference in New Delhi on April 24, 2019. photo credit: PTI
The details of the Gujarat government’s order allowing the premature release of 11 convicts as directed by the Supreme Court are not public. It is in the public domain that two members of the government committee allowing premature release are BJP MLAs.
CK Raulji, one of the two MLAs, said in an interview mojo, went to the extent of saying that the 11 criminals were Brahmins and Brahmins were people with “good” rites or behaviour. He argued that the men had committed no crime and that the committee had inquired about their behavior in prison with the jailer.
“It is believed that among the parameters [for remission] Age, nature of offence, behavior in jail etc… the convicts in this particular case were also considered eligible after considering all the factors as they had completed 14 years of their life,” Gujarat Chief Secretary Rajkumar K. was reported as saying by Indian Express Newspaper.
Members of AISA, Collective, Karnataka Janshakti, Navedu Nilladidare, PUCL, SCMI, Stree Jagruti Samiti are unitedly protesting against the release of 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang rape and murder case in Bengaluru. , Photo Credit: Murli Kumar Ku
There is nothing to suggest that all or any of the convicts expressed regret for the horrific crimes they had committed before their release. And while it cannot be argued that the convicts should not be entitled to exemption, the facts and circumstances of the individual cases should be taken into account. Exemption in secret, without making all the facts public, is of no service to our executive, our judicial system or our democracy.
While ordering the verdict on the premature release of the convicts, the Supreme Court did not mention the specific facts and circumstances of the cases – such as several cases of gang rape and murder – which may or may not be exceptions. Supreme Court’s own remarks about Bilkis Bano facing gruesome acts of violence and his mind left an indelible mark, it is expected that more clarity will come from the court.
It is also strange that 11 criminals came out of jail on this year’s Independence Day, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to highlight the trials and tribulations faced by women in the country, “emphasizing the need to extend support.” . Woman power,
For a party that projected an end to the practice of triple talaq as a game changer for Muslim women, Bilkis Bano’s process of easing the sufferings pointed to the simple reality that the BJP had little to do in acting. interested where she matters to protect Muslim women.
When women’s groups and rights activists raised their voices against this arbitrary exemption, the decision fits neatly into the BJP’s political paradigm – that they don’t need Muslims to win elections, especially in Gujarat where assembly elections are near. .
Muslim representation
Today there is not a single Muslim minister at the Centre, BJP does not have a single Muslim MP in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. According to the 2011 census, the most recently conducted in the country, Muslims make up about 14% of India’s population.
As such, any hope of a working solution to the plight of Bilkis Bano would be unrealistic. The polarization and further polarization of Hindus and Muslims seems to be the magic wand that has electorally worked for the BJP.
Even if it comes at the cost of secular character of India.