The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP of sacrificing “the last shred of conscience” for political gain, referring to the revelation that the Narendra Modi government had approved the release of Bilkis Bano’s rapists overruling the CBI and a special CBI judge.
“There are many compromises in politics. But the BJP has made the greatest compromise of all: a sacrifice of the last shred of conscience that separated them from those craven and venal elements who prize solely their own political survival over all else,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.
Rahul Gandhi singled out Prime Minister Modi and accused him of duplicity, tweeting: “Lal Quile se mahila samman ki baat lekin asliyat mein balatkariyon ke saath. Pradhanmantri ke wade aur iraade mein antar saaf hai. PM nein mahilaon ke saath sirf chhal kiya hai (Speaks of respect for women from the Red Fort but in reality, stands with rapists. The difference between the Prime Minister’s promise and intention is obvious. The Prime Minister has only deceit to offer to women).”
The 11 people serving life sentences for the rape of Bilkis and the murder of seven members of her family 20 years ago were freed on remission on August 15, hours after Modi’s Independence Day address underlined the need to protect women’s dignity.
The Prime Minister has since then maintained silence on their release despite a national outcry and global condemnation.
Singhvi underlined that the revelation of the Centre’s approval of the remission
came only because of the
Supreme Court’s intervention, and said the stain of releasing the rapists would never be removed from the government’s face.
“The central government clearly conspired to hide critical facts about its role in the release of the convicts. The facts have come to light only after instructions from the Supreme Court (after) the petitioners specifically demanded the views of the CBI (on the release),” he said.
The Gujarat government, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, revealed on Monday that it had released the Bilkis case convicts with the “concurrence/approval” of the Centre.
Singhvi said: “Not only was the home ministry aware of the release but it actually supported the same, in defiance of objections from senior officials of the CBI and a special judge. It is clear that the sole underlying calculation for the Modi government was a raw political one. The facts make this even clearer.
“(A member of the Gujarat) panel that (recommended) the release cited dubious justifications, such as the convicts belonged to ‘Brahmin’ and ‘sanskari’ families.”
Singhvi added: “These
convicts were felicitated by members of organisations that profess fellowship with the BJP, and their leaders even attempted to justify this unjustifiable decision. All the convicts were released without application of mind on the key question of individual culpability. The threat to Bilkis Bano’s life that such a decision posed was never considered.
“Why has the Modi government, despite the objections of senior officials, sought to grant preferential treatment to individuals convicted of so reprehensible, horrific and heinous a crime? Has the Modi government decided to pardon all convicted rapists and child murderers who have served a certain period?
“With what face will the Modi government now oppose demands for parole which cite this precedent? Will such treatment be granted to all individuals who are accused of heinous offences?”
Not wrong: Minister
Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday defended the release of the Bilkis Bano gang rape-and-murder convicts.
“When the government and the concerned people have taken the decision, I don’t find anything wrong in it,” the parliamentary affairs minister was quoted as saying by NDTV. Joshi said “there is provision” for the release of convicts who have spent “quite some time” in prison.
