Centre’s involvement in early release of Bilkis Bano case convicts, receives severe backlash

TRS (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday found it shocking that the affidavit filed by the Gujarat government in the Supreme Court

Hyderabad: The Centre’s nod for the release of the Bilkis Bano case convicts has been receiving severe backlash from various parts of the country. Apart from political parties, several professionals including noted advocates, journalists and others have termed the Centre’s decision as “shocking, shameful, repulsive”.

TRS (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday found the affidavit filed by the Gujarat government in the Supreme Court shocking. The Gujarat government claimed that it had decided to release 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case after the Centre gave its approval.

“Shocking!! All along it was reported that Gujarat Govt released the “Sanskari Rapists”. Turns out it is union Govt who actually approved this! Shameful & repulsive, (sic)” he tweeted. He opined that letting out rapists and child-killers just for political gains was a new low even by the very low BJP standards.

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi stated that Bilkis Bano rapists were released early after approval from union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ministry. “These men were guilty of brutal rape & murder. A 3 year old’s head was bashed with a rock. They were killed only because they were Muslim. For BJP, no crime is too grave if the victims are Muslim,” Owaisi tweeted. He termed the release was against the Centre’s own policy.

Supreme Court lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan pointed out that the Centre cleared release of Bilkis Bano rape and murder convicts, despite the officials concerned opposed it. “CBI said the offence committed was “heinous, grave and serious”& hence they “cannot be released prematurely & no leniency may be given” to them. The Civil Judge also opposed their release, (sic)” he tweeted.

Another senior advocate Karuna Nundy felt that what was worse than doing this (releasing the rapists and murders) and defending the move, was the BJP’s expectation that “this” (releasing convicts) will get them votes.

Senior journalist Sucheta Dalal highlighted the different treatments for different cases. While the Bilkis Bano case convicts were released for their “good behaviour”, “the special session of the Supreme Court was held on Saturday to keep a differently abled professor (Prof Saibaba) who was ACQUITTED by a High Court in jail! justice ???” she tweeted.