City speaks up for Bilkis Bano

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

Women’s organisations across the city on Monday came together to condemn the recent release of 11 convicts of Bilkis Bano’s gang rape case at Freedom Park.

 On Independence Day, the 11 men, who were earlier sentenced to life imprisonment for the gang rape of Bilkis Yakub Rasool and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots, were released from jail in Godhra. Du Saraswati, a poet and women’s activist, said, “Bilkis is our sister who is staging a protest against the system on behalf of every woman in India.” In August 2004, the trial was moved to Mumbai at the instance of the Supreme Court, after Bilkis Bano told the court that her family was living in the shadow of uncertainty and danger.

 Citing this, Saraswati said, “The Gujarat government by releasing the convicts have maligned the dignity of the women residing in India. The Maharashtra courts should have been responsible for any further decision regarding the case.” Former state public prosecutor B.T. Venkatesh questioned the decision. “Convicts who were involved in gang rapes and human trafficking cases cannot be provided remission. These are crimes against humanity that do not have a pardon. The Supreme Court clearly defines it along with the definition of life imprisonment,” he said.

 A representative from Karnataka Janashakthi said that civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad, who helped bring out Gujarat riot atrocities to light, has been jailed for seeking justice. “The Sangh Parivar is a kingdom made from a stack of cards and does not understand the power of our camaraderie,” she said.

A representative from the Student Christian Movement of India said the situation with Bilkis is not any different from the nuns of the Christian community. Senior Advocate Balan remarked, “Its Brahmin Beti Bachao, not Dalit betis or Muslim betis. The Sangh has even said the convicts are Brahmins with good sanskaar. Does their sanskaar teach them to rape?