Bilkis Bano case: PM, BJP should apologise to nation and daughters of the country, says Opp

“Even then, the Gujarat government granted pardon to some convicted rapists. The Supreme Court has overturned the decision and upheld their sentences. I believe this should be the punishment for those convicted for rape because if we begin releasing convicts of rape, what will be the message for the society… Those who think women are inferior will be motivated to commit such crimes…,” Italia told mediapersons at Rajpipla in Narmada district.

He added that the SC had “reinstated hope” of the common man seeking justice by overruling the decision of a state government that had “set law aside”.

“The SC’s decision is laudable and welcome. Those convicted of rape should only be kept behind bars and no sympathy should be shown. Why should you pardon rapists, who have been convicted by a court? If it was any other crime like a brawl or assault, and someone has forgiven, one can consider but what can happen such that a rapist becomes a ‘good man’? There should be no leniency towards rapists as they are only meant to be in jail,” said Italia.

“Justice is the only thing one can expect from the SC and it has been delivered. When governments put aside law and take decisions, it is the duty of the SC to step in and protect the spirit of justice… it has upheld hopes of the people,” he added.

Italia’s statement is a departure, as the party has avoided comment on the 2002 riot cases. In August 2022, days after the 11 convicts were released on remission, party national convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had addressed a townhall in Kutch but did not react to the court order.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, said the tendency to “kill justice” for electoral gains was dangerous for the democratic system. “Today the Supreme Court’s decision has once again told the country that who is the ‘patron of criminals’,” he posted on X. He added that Bano’s tireless struggle was a symbol of the “victory of justice” against the “arrogant BJP government”.

Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “With this order, the veil over the anti-women policies of the BJP has been removed. After this order, public’s trust in the justice system will be further strengthened. Congratulations to Bilkis Bano for continuing her fight bravely.”

Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba said, “The Prime Minister and the BJP should apologise to the nation and the daughters of the country in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment.”

Addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi called the BJP government a “jumle ki sarkar”, which raises slogans like “beti bachao, beti padhao” but protects the rapists. “All their jumlas have been exposed in one go and the real face has come out… This judgment, the content, the contours, it is a revolutionary judgment. Because it simply speaks the truth. It holds the mirror to power, to arrogant power, to punch-drunk power,” he said.

In Ahmedabad, the Congress claimed the Gujarat BJP government’s approach was to save the criminals. The party’s Gujarat spokesperson, Manish Doshi, said the state’s BJP government does not appear to follow the law and the Constitution.

“It appears to work to save the culprits rather than get justice for victims, and this is very well proved by the Supreme Court’s judgment… This is not the only instance, there have been many such cases where the government has shielded those who commit a crime rather than protect the victims,” he said.

WITH PTI INPUTS