The BJP on Sunday allowed Shailesh Chimanlal Bhatt, one of the 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, to share the stage with BJP MPs and MLAs in a show in Karmadi village
Posted Date – Mon, 3/27/23 at 9:09pm
Photo: Twitter
Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BRS) sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday for allowing a convict in the Bilkis Bano rape case to share the stage with elected public representatives in a Gujarat government program on Sunday.
The 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang-rape case were greeted with garlands of flowers when they were released from prison on Merdeka last year under the Gujarat government’s commutation policy. Across sections, people have condemned the deplorable act. Even retired judge UD Salvi called the conduct “incorrect”.
However, the BJP went a step further by allowing one of the convicts, Shailesh Chimanlal Bhatt, on Sunday to share the stage with a BJP MP and MLA at a show in Karmadi village, Dahod district.
KT Rama Rao, Minister of Industry and BRS Works Chairman, slammed BJP’s actions on Twitter: “Welcome to #AmritKaal. Balatkaar Defense Party and their brazen embrace of these rapists is a true reflection of their state of mind,” he said.
Welcome to #AmritKaal
The Balatkaar Defense Party and their brazen embrace of these rapists is a true reflection of their state of mind https://t.co/EBdkfkDbzr
— KTR (@KTRBRS) March 27, 2023
Responding to a tweet from TSREDCO Chairman Y Satish Reddy, Rama Rao said, “First, they wore garlands and celebrated the release of Bilkis Bano convict. Now, they are seen sharing the stage with BJP elected representatives.”
BRS MLC K Kavitha also tweeted: “Bilkis Bano Rapist openly shared the stage with BJP MPs and MLAs. As a community we have become a community that is celebrating justice for women while victims plead for justice Perpetrators of heinous crimes and providing a platform. India is watching!”
