Bilkis Bano case: Protestors demand arrest of convicts, after they seek time to surrender before SC
Bengaluru: A group of protestors gathered in the city’s freedom park on Thursday, expressing solidarity with the Supreme Court order and demanding immediate arrest of all 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case. The demonstrators also urged that the SC must decline the convicts' appeal for an extension for the surrender deadline.
The Supreme Court on January 08 (Monday) canceled Gujarat government’s order of granting early release to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case and ordered all the 11 men to surrender to jail authorities within two weeks. However, the convicts appealed before the apex court seeking extension of deadline to surrender citing reasons such as son’s marriage, leg surgery, sole caretaker of parents and others.
Several protestors from different parts of the city participated, calling out slogans in support of Bilkis. “People propagate the idea that women should move ahead in society, however that never happened. Parents are fearing to send their children to school/colleges. The government should ensure that girls feel safe in the country. We demand the immediate arrest of all the 11 convicts, that is why we are demonstrating today,” said a protestor.
Another protestor Vi alias Vandar Kolali, said, “This protest is in solidarity to the SC judgment.” Kolali further condemned Gujarat Government’s release of convicts and the alleged celebration of their release. He remarked, ‘people celebrated the release of convicts, which is so wrong about our country’s current situation, where we openly celebrate the release of criminals walking free. Meantime, the Supreme Court Judgement is a victory for Bilkis and the case and we are all here standing for Bilkis.”
Aysha, a college student participating in the protest, expressed, “The government should not tolerate such crimes and take stringent action on crimes against women.”
Activists from 'Navu Yeddu Niladidare' Madhu Gosh (left), Jaya (Right)
Madhu Bhushan from ‘Navu Yeddu Niladidare campaign,’ noted, “According to media reports some of the convicts are requesting a time of six months to surrender, in six months anything could happen. The remission by the Gujarat Government was fraudulent. Bilkis Bano is still living in fear, she has still not come out in public, she has moved hundreds of houses. While these men are happily roaming around in their houses, what about Bilkis? Does she not deserve to live with freedom and security?”
Condemning convicts being felicitated by RSS activists, Madhu added, “The Government should have initiated action against it, what is the message that the government is trying to give ? This speaks clearly about the politics of this government which has allowed the garlanding and felicitation of the convicts,” she added.
Emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable and minority sections of society, Madhu Bhushan expressed displeasure with the religious politics prevailing in the current scenario.
Meanwhile, 77 year old Rosemary, remarked that “Justice is unequal, while some get justice some don't.” The protests were organized by under the ‘Navu Yeddu Niladidare’ campiagn, with more than 100 protestors gathering at the freedom park.
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2001 Parliament attack anniversary: Vice Prez, PM Modi, MPs pay tributes to fallen heroes
New Delhi (PTI): Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday led Parliamentarians in paying floral tributes to those who died fending off terrorists who attacked the Parliament House in 2001.
On the 24th anniversary of the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Radhakrishnan, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chair, were among the first to offer tributes.
A brief function is held outside the now old Parliament building (Samvidhan Sadan) every December 13 to mark the day.
CISF personnel presented a salute or "samman guard" at the venue, after which a moment of silence was observed to mark the anniversary. Till 2023, the CRPF used to offer 'salami shastra' (present arms).
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a senior party leader, were also present at the event. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh and Arjun Ram Meghwal also lined up to offer flower petals at the photographs of the personnel who went down foiling the attack.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is in Latur to attend the funeral of former speaker of the Lower House of Parliament and ex-Union minister Shivraj Patil.
The attack was carried out by five armed terrorists, but personnel from the now former Parliament Security Service, CRPF and Delhi Police foiled the attack, with no terrorist being able to enter the building.
Six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel, a gardener and a TV video journalist were killed in the attack. All five terrorists were gunned down in the forecourt of the then Parliament building.
