'SC Ruling Removes Veil Over BJP's Anti-Women Policies': Congress Hails Verdict On Bilkis Bano Case

Priyanka Gandhi hailed the SC ruling quashing the Gujarat govt's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, saying it has removed the veil over the BJP's anti-women policies.

File Photo Of Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi

Source : PTI Images

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Monday said that the Supreme Court's recent ruling nullified the Gujarat government's move to grant early release to 11 convicts involved in the Bilkis Bano case. She asserted that the decision exposes the BJP's negative stance towards women.

In an X post, Gandhi said, "This verdict reveals the Bharatiya Janata Party's anti-women policies. The public's faith in the judicial system will be bolstered by this action". She extended her appreciation to Bilkis Bano for her courageous perseverance. The Congress party echoed Gandhi's sentiments and criticised the BJP's administration in Gujarat for its "anti-women" stance.

अंततः न्याय की जीत हुई है। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने गुजरात दंगों के दौरान गैंगरेप की शिकार #BilkisBano के आरोपियों की रिहाई रद्द कर दी है। इस आदेश से भारतीय जनता पार्टी की महिला विरोधी नीतियों पर पड़ा हुआ पर्दा हट गया है। इस आदेश के बाद जनता का न्याय व्यवस्था के प्रति विश्वास और मजबूत…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) January 8, 2024

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also slammed BJP calling it a "protector of criminals". Gandhi said in an X post, "The tendency to 'murder justice' for electoral gains is dangerous for a democratic system. Today, the Supreme Court's decision once again showed the country who gives 'patronage to criminals'.

चुनावी फायदे के लिए ‘न्याय की हत्या’ की प्रवृत्ति लोकतांत्रिक व्यवस्था के लिए खतरनाक है।

आज सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले ने एक बार फिर देश को बता दिया कि ‘अपराधियों का संरक्षक’ कौन है।

बिलकिस बानो का अथक संघर्ष, अहंकारी भाजपा सरकार के विरुद्ध न्याय की जीत का प्रतीक है।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 8, 2024

In a similar vein, Pawan Khera, another Congress leader, highlighted the apex court's decision as a reflection of the BJP's insensitivity towards women. He remarked, "This judgement underscores the BJP's negligence and indifference towards women".

गुजरात सरकार द्वारा #BilkisBano के 11 बलात्कारियों की रिहाई को रद्द करने वाला सुप्रीम कोर्ट का फैसला, महिलाओं के प्रति भाजपा की क्रूर उपेक्षा को उजागर करता है!

यह उन लोगों के चेहरे पर तमाचा है जिन्होंने इन अपराधियों की अवैध रिहाई में मदद की व जिन्होंने न्याय पर बुलडोजर चलाकर,…

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) January 8, 2024

Later in the day, the chief of the grand old party, Mallikarjun Kharge said: "Save the daughter' became 'Save the culprit'! The decision of the Supreme Court in the Bilkis Bano case is the restoration of justice. It exposes the misdeeds of the Home Ministry of Modi Government and the Gujarat Government."

"This shows how BJP can keep a woman far away from justice to win elections. Every woman in the country has come to know today how disgusting and corrupt the anti-women mentality of the BJP is. The struggle that Bilkis Bano has done has not gone in vain," Kharge said in a post on X.

“बेटी बचाओ” बना “दोषी बचाओ” !

बिलकिस बानो मामले में माननीय सुप्रीम कोर्ट का फ़ैसला न्याय की बहाली है।

ये मोदी सरकार के गृह मंत्रालय व गुजरात सरकार के कुकृत्यों का पर्दाफ़ाश करता है।

ये दिखाता है कि चुनाव जीतने के लिए कैसे भाजपा, एक महिला को न्याय से कोसों दूर रख सकती है।…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 8, 2024

Following the verdict, an atmosphere of celebration emerged outside Bilkis Bano's residence in Devgadh Baria, Gujarat, with locals setting off fireworks.

The Supreme Court, through a bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, revoked the Gujarat government's order to grant remission to the 11 convicts. The court directed these individuals to surrender to the authorities within a fortnight. The bench clarified that the Maharashtra government, not the Gujarat administration, had jurisdiction over the matter. 

Furthermore, the court determined that a prior judgement from May 13, 2022, which had instructed the Gujarat government to evaluate the remission based on a 1992 policy, was obtained deceitfully. The bench criticised the Gujarat government's actions, labelling them as misleading and emphasised the absence of a genuine review application from the state regarding the previous order.

The case traces back to March 2002 when Bilkis Bano faced harrowing experiences during the post-Godhra riots. She endured a brutal assault, losing 14 family members, including a three-year-old daughter. Despite the life sentences handed down to the 11 convicts in 2008, the Gujarat government released them on August 15, 2022, under the remission policy then in effect.

It's essential to highlight that this remission was distinct from the guidelines set for granting early releases under the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" celebrations.