Jamaat seeks the intervention of the President of India in reversing the decision of releasing the convicts to save the system of justice and governance from becoming paralysed and ineffective
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has condemned the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case by the Gujarat government on August 15 and hoped the Supreme Court intervenes in the matter to reverse this grave injustice carried out under the guise of official government policy.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is of the opinion that there is political motive behind the release of Bilkis Bano’s convicts who were give life imprisonment by the court.
Addressing a press conference at Jamaat’s headquarters in New Delhi, JIH Vice-President Saleem Engineer said: “The role of the Gujarat government in ensuring the release of those convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and the murder of seven members of her family is deplorable.”
“Such decisions that are aimed at reaping political dividends to appease a particular community are highly objectionable.”
Criticising the use of remission policy by the Gujarat government Saleem Engineer said, “The remission policy should be applied to those languishing in jails for petty crimes not for heinous crimes like rape and murder. ”
If state governments are allowed to free criminals of their choice through a remission policy despite being convicted for crimes like rape and murder, then this will make a mockery of our judiciary and the citizens will lose hope in the supremacy of the law, he said.
“This is bound to embolden criminals and their masterminds as they will be confident of being bailed out by the system sooner or later despite committing the most heinous crimes.” added Jamaat leader.
He also expressed anguish over the manner the convicts were welcomed and garlanded after they walked out of the jail by Hindutva zealots saying it quite reprehensible.
Jamaat-e Islami Hind has also sought the President’s intervention in reversing the decision of releasing the convicts to save the system of justice and governance from becoming paralysed and ineffective.
Bilkis Bano was 21 years old, and five months pregnant, when she was raped and her toddler daughter killed along with six others from the family on March 3, 2002. They were hiding in fields near Ahmedabad, hoping to escape the violence that erupted following after the Godhra train burning in Gujarat in 2002 just days earlier.
In January 2008, CBI court sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family. They were convicted on charges of conspiring to rape a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under the Indian Penal Code.
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Cover photo: Jamaat’s Vice-President Saleem Engineer addressing the Press conference in New Delhi on Saturday.
