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Bilkis Bano case: Amit Shah allowed release of gangrape, murder convicts, should resign

Representation* to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, seeking resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah, sent through the Women’s Commission:
***
It turns out that the Home Ministry actually gave permission for remission of sentence of 11 rape and murder convicts in the case of Bilkis Bano in Gujarat. It flies in the face of the argument that the convicts had completed 14 years of sentence, even though it is not settled in law that in every case of life term a 14 years in prison would be considered enough. The Home Ministry order clearly says that it is for ‘premature’ release. Moreover, it has also been revealed that each of the convicts was out for a period ranging between 998 to 1576 days on parole and furlough which means that even 14 years have not been completed. Also, any remission of sentence is based on good behavior of convicts. But three of the convicts Mitesh Bhatt, Ramesh Chandana and Radheshyam Shah have offences registered against them during their sentence. Shockingly, Mitesh Bhatt was involved in another criminal assault on a woman with intention to outrage her modesty in 2020. Ramesh Chandana, Rajubhai Soni, Jasawnt Nai when released on parole or furlough came back to prison by 122, 197 and 75 days late, respectively, if it can be considered any mark of ‘good behavior.’ It is also clear from the pictures after their release from Godhra sub-jail on Independence Day when they were garlanded and offered ladoos that none of them has any remorse for their misdeeds. So, what is the basis for their release except that they are favourites of the ruling party which wishes to further use them to achieve its political ends of communal polarization before the impending Gujarat Assembly elections?
In Ankita Bhandari’s murder case the forensic report has ruled out rape. The accused include Pulkit Arya, son of a former Bhartiya Janata Party leader from Uttarakhand. A Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh office bearer was also booked for posting objectionable material against a relative of Ankita after her murder.
What is this mindset within BJP which appears to be protecting criminals associated with it?
With the ghastliest of crimes committed against Bilkis Bano we seem to have reached the nadir of a process of degradation of morality where some of the criminals have been described by a local BJP Member of Legislative Assembly, who was also a member of the committee which remitted the sentence, as sanskari Brahmins.
In the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who is universally known for upholding virtues of Truth and Non-violence, it is Untruth and Violence which the BJP wants to make normal.
As it is the senior leaders of BJP who seem to have created an atmosphere where rule of law has been compromised, the Home Minister must resign for the most outrageous act of allowing remission of sentence to the 11 accused in Bilkis Bano’s case. We hope you’ll intervene at this very important juncture in our country’s history of upholding justice and rule of law.
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