'BJP stands with Bilkis Bano's rapists': Asaduddin Owaisi attacks Centre

'The BJP governments in Gujarat and at the Centre, which helped in the releasing of rapists of Bilkis Bano should speak up and apologise to her,' Owaisi said

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre over the Supreme Court's Bilkis Bano verdict.

Referring to the court's strongly worded rejoinder to the Gujarat government for releasing Bano's rapists prematurely, Owaisi claimed the BJP government helped rapists in the state.

"I welcome this judgment and I hope it acts as a precedent against all rapists in the future. Just because they affirm a political ideology which is an enemy to the constitution of India, you will not be set free. When Narendra Modi talks about nari shakti, it is a hollow claim," Owaisi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

"They are standing with the rapists of Bilkis Bano. BJP governments in Gujarat and Centre, both helped in releasing these people -- they should speak up and apologise to Bilkis Bano," Owaisi added.

He also pointed out that two BJP MLAs had endorsed the release of the convicts in 2022.

"From Day 1, I have been saying that the BJP, instead of standing with the victim, has always stood with the perpetrators who committed this heinous crime. It is Bilkis Bano who fought so bravely and also put her life on the line. The same Gujarat government that could not protect her, gave an order to release these convicts who raped her and killed her child," he was quoted by ANI as saying.

Bilkis Bano case

Bilkis Bano, now in her 40s, was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped during communal violence in 2002. Several members of her family, including her toddler daughter, were killed by a mob.

The Gujarat government last year released the 11 convicts on the grounds that they had completed fourteen years in prison and that their behaviour inside the jail was good.

The apex court today said the Gujarat government wasn't competent to take the decision as the trial took place in Maharashtra and that the Gujarat government had usurped power.

"Rule of law is breached because the Gujarat government usurped power not vested in it and abused its power. On that ground also, the remission orders deserve to be quashed...We strike down the remission orders on the ground of usurpation of power by the Gujarat government," the bench said.