Bilkis Bano case: Rahul Gandhi says SC verdict showed country who gives patronage to criminals

Rahul Gandhi. Pic/PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Monday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Supreme Court quashing the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, saying the verdict has shown once again who the "protector of criminals" is, reported news agency PTI.

Earlier in the day, the apex court said the Gujarat government abused its power in grating the remission to the men convicted of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven of her family members during the 2002 riots, and ordered that they be sent back to jail within two weeks, reported PTI.

The Gujarat government's remission order was without application of mind, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said and asked whether "heinous crimes against women permit remission" whatever faith she may follow or creed she may belong to, reported PTI.

In a post in Hindi on 'X', Rahul 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.

Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident in February 2002. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed.

All 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, 2022.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hailed the Supreme Court judgment quashing the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, saying it has removed the veil over the BJP's anti-women policies.

Taking to X, the Congress leader said that justice has ultimately prevailed after the SC verdict in the case.

"Justice has ultimately prevailed. With this order, the veil over the anti-women policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party has been removed. After this, public confidence in the justice system will be further strengthened," she said in a post in Hindi on 'X'.

She further lauded Bilkis Bano and said, "Congratulations to Bilkis Bano for continuing her fight bravely."

The Congress party also took to X and attacked the BJP, saying that the verdict shows the "anti-women" act of the BJP government in Gujarat.

"This decision of the Supreme Court in the Bilkis Bano case is historic. This decision exposes the anti-women act of the BJP government of Gujarat in releasing the rapists of Bilkis Bano. This shows how disgusting the BJP's thinking is towards women," the party said in Hindi.

(With inputs from PTI)