KTR Takes Dig At PM Modi And BJP Govt Over Release Of 11 Convicts In 2002 Bilkis Bano Rape Case

Mr. K.T. Rama Rao, the Information Technology and Urban Development Minister of Telangana, reacted to the release of 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano Rape Case.

On the 17th of August, Mr. K.T. Rama Rao, the Working President of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) took to Twitter and said, “If you had really meant what you spoke about Respecting women, urge you to intervene & rescind the Gujarat Govt remission order releasing 11 Rapists. Sir, it is nauseating to put it mildly & against MHA order. Need you to show sagacity to the Nation.”

Mr. K.T. Rama Rao took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Gujarat Government and Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, after the release of the convicts, accused in the rape case.

It is to be noted that on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, the 15th of August, the Government of Gujarat led by the BJP, announced to release 11 convicts, found guilty for raping a woman named Bilkis Bano in the 2002 Gujarat Riots. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was raped and her toddler daughter killed along with six others from the family on the 3rd of March 2002.

All the accused identified as Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhesham Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana were convicted by Special Mumbai Court in 2008. The court announced lifetime imprisonment for convicts. Later, the Supreme Court also slapped a fine of Rs. 50 lakhs on the accused, which was to be paid to the victim.

However, in 2022, the Gujarat Government granted premature release to the convicts, gaining criticism from the non BJP parties and opposition leaders in the State.