Bilkis Bano case: Day after SC observations, Congress slams Centre, Gujarat govt over remission to convicts

The Congress on Wednesday attacked the central and Gujarat governments over the remission granted to the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case last year saying the truth about the basis on which such criminals were released needs to come outThe Opposition partys assertion came a day after the Supreme Court questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to these convicts in the case of gangrape of Bilkis Bano and murder of her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots The court said the gravity of the offence should have been considered and asked whether there was any application of mindThe Centre and the Gujarat government also told the court they may file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order asking them to be ready with original files on the grant of remissionAsked about the hearing in the Supreme Court and the top courts observation Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said It was not an ordinary crime or just gangrape her child was killed Can you imagine what she would have gone through and the the Gujarat government and the central government say these files are privilegeWhat privilege is there is it a national security issue This is a matter of a womans right You will have to put forward the truth on what basis you released such hardened criminals and on what basis your people called them sanskari she said slamming the governmentAlso Read Give reasons for remission to 11 convicts SC on Bilkis caseAsking for reasons for the premature release of the convicts a bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna had also questioned the paroles granted to them during their incarceration periodThe Supreme Court bench hearing the matter on Tuesday had said Today it is this lady Bilkis but tomorrow it can be anyone It may be you or me If you do not show your reasons for grant of remission then we will draw our own conclusionsIn her remarks at the presser Shrinate said The question asked by the Supreme Court is the correct one Every woman of the country asks this today that Modi ji and his people save such persons Where is Smriti Irani and others they are sitting with tape on their mouthThe question asked by the Supreme Court shakes the conscience of this country that it was Bilkis Bano yesterday and today it can be someone else the Congress leader saidWhat is the government trying to hide There is absolutely nothing about national security here the truth about how the convicts of Bilkis Bano were released needs to come out because that is he truth every woman in the country including myself wants to know What was the ground on which they were released Shrinate saidOn March 27 terming Bilkis Banos gangrape and the murder of her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots as a horrendous act the top court had asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards as followed in other cases of murder were applied while granting remission to the 11 convicts in the caseIt had sought a response from the Centre the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bano who has challenged the remission of the sentencesAll the 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last yearThe top court is seized of PILs filed by CPIM leader Subhashini Ali independent journalist Revati Laul former Lucknow University VC Roop Rekha Verma and TMC MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convictsBano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gangraped while fleeing from the riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident Her threeyearold daughter was among the seven family members killedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever