AAP breaks silence, welcomes Bilkis order; ‘can’t comment,’ says BJP leader who justified remission

AAP leader Gopal Italia says, 'When governments put aside the law and make decisions, it is the duty of the SC to step in and protect the spirit of justice and it has upheld the hopes of the people'

The Supreme Court on Monday struck down the remission granted by the Gujarat government to 11 convicts, who are out of jail, in the Bilkis Bano case. (Express file photo by Bhupendra Rana)

After the Supreme Court struck down the Gujarat government’s decision to grant remission to 11 life-term convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, political parties in the state have largely remained silent on the issue, with the exception of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

In his reaction to the Supreme Court’s order, the ruling BJP’s C K Raulji, the sitting Godhra MLA who was on the Jail Advisory Committee (JAC) that ruled in favour of remission of the 11 convicts, told The Indian Express, “It is a court matter. I cannot comment on it till I study the court order.”

In 2022, Raulji courted controversy when he had referred to the released convicts as “Brahmins with good sanskar (values)”.

The AAP, which has four MLAs, welcomed the apex court’s verdict. The party’s national joint secretary Gopal Italia, who is also a practising lawyer, said those convicted by the courts of law in the cases of rape “should not be granted pardon under any constitutional law”.

“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 to society? Those who think women are inferior will be motivated to commit such crimes,” Italia told reporters outside the Rajpipla sub-jail, where AAP leader Chaitar Vasava has been lodged over an alleged case of extortion and assault on forest officers.

Italia said the SC has “restored” a common person’s hopes for justice by overruling the decision of a state government that had “set the law aside”. “The SC’s decision is laudable and welcome… 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 happened that a rapist becomes a ‘good man’? When governments put aside the law and make decisions, it is the duty of the Supreme Court to step in and protect the spirit of justice and it has upheld the hopes of the people,” Italia added.

Italia’s statement marked a departure from the AAP’s stance to avoid commenting on the 2002 riot-related cases. In August 2022, days after the 11 convicts in the Bilkis case were released, the party’s supremo Arvind Kejriwal had addressed a town hall in Kutch, but had refrained from commenting on the Gujarat government’s decision.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, Pravin Togadia, leader of the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), said “Hindu brethren should receive justice”, referring to the convicts. “We pray that everyone should get justice in this country… We pray that the Hindu brethren should receive justice and be protected… We will look at available legal remedies in the case (of the convicts),” Togadia said.

Togadia was the international general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in 2002, when the riots broke out in Gujarat. He resigned from the VHP in April 2018 and floated his outfit AHP.

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

Parimal A Dabhi

Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues: Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More