'BJP protecting rapists, silencing voices that demand democratic rights'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Irom Sharmila on Monday said the government is jailing everyone who's raising their voice for injustice and protecting rapists. She also asked people to stand with Bilkis Banu and fight against inhumanity.

 Eleven men who were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case of 2002 were released from Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after a panel set up by the Gujarat government approved their application for remission of the sentence.

"The government is protecting the rapists and murderers but imprisoning the fighters who raise their voices for the protection of democratic rights,” said Sharmila at a conference.

The All India Women's Cultural Society (AIMSS) held a conference on August 29 condemning the release of 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Bilkis Banu rape case. Sharmila spoke at the 'Bilkis Banu, We Are With You' convention in Bengaluru along with Ravivarma Kumar, Healatha Mahishi, B M Haneeef and M N Manjula.

 “It's a gross injustice committed by the Gujarat government to release the criminals. This is not just an injustice to Bilkis, but it's an injustice to the entire humanity. People have to get ready for a strong fight against this," said former Advocate General Ravi Varma Kumar.

 Hemalata Mahishi said that people’s silence is like consenting to injustice happening to women. "If we remain silent, it is like consenting to injustice. If such an incident happens when any government is in power, we must unanimously condemn it.

 Bilkis Banu should be congratulated for fighting against injustice. There is a need to review the decision of the Gujarat government, said senior lawyer Hemalata Mahishi.