Assaduddin Owaisi welcomes SC verdict on the Bilkis Bano case, slams Modi's "hollow" nari shakti promises

Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the PM's "nari shakti talks" are "hollow claims", following the Supreme Court's verdict on the Bilkis Bano gang-rape and murder case. Raking up the Gujarat government's remission orders, Owaisi alleged that the BJP government in the state had supported the rapists by directing a pre-term release. 

"I welcome this judgment and I hope it acts as a precedent against all rapists in the future. Just because you affirm a political ideology, you will not be set free. When Narendra Modi talks about nari shakti, it is a hollow claim. They are standing with the rapists of Bilkis Bano. BJP governments in Gujarat and Centre, both helped in releasing these people...they should speak up and apologise to Bilkis Bano," said the AIMIM Chief. 

Owaisi sharpened his attack on BJP and said that two MLAs of the ruling party had supported the release of the 11 convicts in August 2022. “From Day 1, I have been saying that the BJP, instead of standing with the victim, has always stood with the perpetrators who committed this heinous crime. It is Bilkis Bano who fought so bravely and also put her life on the line. The same Gujarat government that could not protect her, gave an order to release these convicts who raped her and killed her child,” he added. 

In 2002, Bilkis Bano, who was in the fifth month of pregnancy, was forced to vacater her residence in Randhikpur village, accompanied by her 3-year-old daughter, husband, and other family members, in search of a safe shelter in the midst of the Godhra riots. Upon arriving at the Chhaparvad district, Bilkis Bano and her family were rounded up and assaulted by a mob of men who were carrying sickles and swords. As per reports, Bilkis, her mother and three other women were brutally gang raped by 11 men. The mob killed seven members of her family, including her 3-year-old daughter. 

All 11 convicts in the gangrape case were released by the Gujarat government on August 15, 2022, innadherence to its remission policy. Following 15 years of imprisonment, factors such as their age and conduct during their time in custody were taken into consideration by the Gujrat government.

The Supreme Court in its verdict on Monday said that it wasn't under the jurisdiction Gujrat government to take such decisions as rhe trial had taken place in Maharashtra. "Rule of law is breached because the Gujarat government usurped power not vested in it and abused its power. On that ground also, the remission orders deserve to be quashed...We strike down the remission orders on the ground of usurpation of power by the Gujarat government," observed the Apex Court. In its ruling, the SC also directed the 11 convicts to surrender back to the authorities within a timeframe of 2 weeks.

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