The South India times Hyderabad: Congress MP & former TPCC President Capt. N Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused the BJP government in Gujarat of setting a bad precedent by releasing 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case. Speaking to media persons in Kodad on Thursday, Reddy said that all 11 persons, released by the Gujarat government, were involved in the gang rape of Bilquis Bano, who was then five months pregnant, and the brutal murder of seven members of her family in Randhikpur village of Dahod district of that state. He said all the accused were convicted after a long battle involving the Supreme Court and an investigation done by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
“The BJP Government in Gujarat carried out the remission of sentence in the case with such ease and it had sent a wrong message that there was no importance to the courts and justice system,” the Senior Congress leader alleged. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave a long speech on respect and empowerment for women on Independence Day, should break his silence. He must clarify whether the decision was taken by Gujarat Government in consultation with the Centre as it is mandated by law since the case was investigated by the CBI,” he asked.
The Lok Sabha MP said that by ensuring the release of rape and murder convicts involved in the Gujarat riots of 2002, Modi and his party’s government in Gujarat have set a wrong example. Treating this as a precedent, other governments in the country would start releasing rapists and killers belonging to their parties, he pointed out. “PM Modi, who is against distributing freebies to the common people, can now promise freedom for all rapists and murderers if they join the BJP,” he alleged, adding, that BJP would witness a surge in members with criminal backgrounds, especially those facing charges of rape and murder.
