File Picture : Twitter/ ANI
In a first major statement by a BJP leader , Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case were released following a Supreme Court order but it is wrong if a person accused of a crime is “felicitated”.
As per report by ANI, Replying to a discussion in the Legislative Council on an incident in the Bhandara district where a 35-year-old woman was sexually assaulted allegedly by three people, Fadnavis said there was no reason to raise the Bilkis Bano issue in the House.
“The accused who were sentenced to 14-20 years prison, were released after an order from the Supreme Court. But welcoming the accused after their release is wrong. The accused is accused. No one should support them,” Fadnavis said.
“The convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case of Gujarat were released following a Supreme Court Order, but it is wrong if a person accused of a crime is “felicitated” and there can be no justification for such an act,” he added.
The Gujarat government released the 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a petition challenging the remission granted by the Gujarat government to 11 convicts who had gangraped Bilkis Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.
