From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday exposed the Gujarat Government’s lie that it released 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Its spokesman Pawan Khera told a Press conference here that the Supreme Court had not ordered remission as claimed by the Gujarat government but only directed it to dispose of the matter within three months.
He also blasted the state government’s claim that the decision to grant remission was based on the policy of 1992 and not on the basis of the MHA guidelines of 2014. Reading out from the Home Ministry’s guidelines he said: “The 2014 guidelines of MHA clearly stipulate that those convicts, who are convicted of rape, gang rape or murder of such heinous crime cannot be granted remission, cannot be given pardon.”
Khera said a new fact that has emerged is more shocking. The so called policy of 1992 referred by the state government was abrogated, was removed, was done away with by the Gujarat government on May 8, 2013 when Narendra Modi was the Gujarat chief minister. He also distributed a copy of the May 8 order.
Another fact is that the state government is required to take concurrence of the Centre before giving remission in a case investigated by a central agency, Khera said and sought an answer from the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah whether the Centre’s concurrence was given or not. If not, what action they stipulate against the Gujarat chief minister.
He also challenged the chief miniser to share the names of the members of the Jail Advisory Committee which first recommended remission of these 11 convicts and did his government share with the top court the order of May 8, 2013, by which the 1992 policy was quashed.
Khera expressed shock over the society’s silence over the Bilkis Bano’s criminals, who raped, defiled, killed children and raped women and who were convicted of rape and murder.
