All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi Thursday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case of the 2002 Gujarat Riots. While speaking to the media, Owaisi accused the saffron party of standing by rapists in Gujarat and Kathua.
Reacting sharply to the Gujarat BJP MLA comment that some of the rapists of Bilkis Bano are Brahmins with 'sanskaar' the AIMIM chief said, "While some people's caste can secure their release from jail despite the heinous nature of their crime, some other people's caste or religion is enough to 'imprison them without proof."
"It is BJP’s policy to stand by rapists, whether in Gujarat or Kathua. BJP is giving “get out of jail free passes” on caste lines. We must thank God that at least Godse was convicted & hanged," he added.
Owaisi also pointed out how on Independence Day, when PM Modi spoke of women empowerment in his speech, the Gujarat government released the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.
"Did the Gujarat government take permission from the Centre as they were convicted following a CBI probe?" Owaisi said, as quoted by PTI.
"The Bilkis Bano case should not be viewed through the prism of a Muslim. It is a matter of justice," he added accusing the BJP of doing all this keeping in mind the upcoming assembly election in Gujarat.
Earlier, C K Raulji, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Godhra said Some of the prisoners in the Bilkis Bano case from the 2002 Gujarat violence are "Brahmins" with good 'sanskaar' or values, and it is probable they were fixed because of their prior family activities.
The BJP MLA was also part of the state government panel that suggested remission for all 11 men found guilty, reported PTI
Under its remission policy, The BJP government in Gujarat on August 15, released all the 11 people convicted in the rape of a pregnant Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the Gujarat riots.