IPA Newspack
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets

IPA /

Politics

Politics

Release of Bilkis Bano convicts a poll talking point for Muslims

The premature release of 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gangrape case has become part of political and electoral discourse in Gujarat in run-up to the next month’s Assembly polls with the opposition Congress mentioning about the episode in its poll manifesto and vowing to ensure justice to the survivor.

A section of observers and activists feels the 20-year-old issue and the latest development will help the opposition party in getting votes, while others believe it will leave no impact in the Assembly elections to be held in December 1 and 5.

In its poll manifesto unveiled a few day ago, the Congress said it would revoke the remission granted by the state government to the 11 convicts, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008 in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case by a Mumbai court.

Following the remission, these 11 men convicted in the case walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15.

Bilkis Bano was a resident of Randhikpur village of tribal-dominated Dahod district, which falls under the Limkheda Assembly seat, currently held by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kaleem Siddiqui, a prominent activist who has opposed the relief granted to the convicts, said the Congress’ stand on the issue has “consolidated” Muslim votes in its favour and prevented these electors from going towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Gujarat Congress working president Jignesh Mevani, one of the most vocal voices on the episode, believes though the party’s stand was necessary to assure minorities, it may not fetch votes because the issue was not raised for getting political or electoral mileage.

However, both feel the early release of convicts is not a prominent election issue in Gujarat.

According to Siddiqui, the impact of the remission issue, which has now reached the Supreme Court, will be felt more in Panchmahal and Dahod districts, which have a considerable number of Muslim voters.

“The way Jignesh Mevani had raised this issue, even in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, a sentiment was built among Muslims that someone had at least raised their concern. However, Hindus see this from a communal angle. Had they considered it an issue of violence on women, the Bilkis Bano case and subsequent remission of the convicts would have become a huge issue,” he said.

In September, Siddiqui and other activists had organised a foot-march, “Bilkis Bano Apology Padyatra”, from Randhikpur till Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to protest the early release of the convicts. However, the yatra could not be finished as organisers did not have prior permission for the protest march from authorities.

“Since Aam Aadmi Party leaders remained silent and avoided commenting over this issue in Gujarat, common Muslims became alert as they realised that despite having several flaws, the Congress was still standing with them. Because only Congress leaders have openly criticised the BJP on this issue, both at state as well as national level,” he said.

According to him, local Muslims are unhappy with the AIMIM for not doing anything concrete like the Congress.

“Earlier, it was believed Muslim votes will get divided between the AAP and the AIMIM. Even Muslims were considering to vote for the AAP for what the party was offering. But, this (remission) issue has actually played a key role in consolidating Muslim votes in favour of the Congress. Now, there is greater clarity among Muslims on whom to choose in this election,” stated Siddiqui.

Mevani, who has repeatedly attacked the state’s BJP government for premature release of the convicts, admits common citizens do not get emotionally involved with such issues.

With inputs from News18

IPA Special

Opposition Can Follow A Five-Point Approach To Defeat BJP In 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Bigger Muslim Support To The Congress In Karnataka Poll Is A Positive Signal For 2024

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Kejriwal Gathering Opposition’s Support Against Centre’s Ordinance

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Modi Govt Is Planning To Make Sedition Law Stricter Before 2024 Polls

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

‘Deglobalisation’ Talk By Experts Means Tendency Of Western Powers To Discriminate Against China

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Bengal BJP Revamps Its Campaign Strategy Focusing On Both Left And TMC

June 2, 2023
Happening Now

Law Commission backs sedition law with tougher punishment

June 2, 2023
Politics

Rahul says BJP will be ‘decimated’ in assembly polls

June 2, 2023
Politics

Giriraj Singh calls Rahul Gandhi’s US tour ‘gaali yatra’

June 2, 2023
Politics

Cong to attend Patna meeting of opposition parties

June 2, 2023
Politics

Islam safe and secure in Bharat, vouches RSS chief

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Installation Of Sengol At New Parliament Building Is A Part Of RSS Plan On Hindu Rashtra

June 1, 2023
IPA Special

Coming Caste Census Has To Focus On Many New Dynamics Of Indian Society

June 1, 2023
IPA Special

High Growth Rate Of GDP In 2022-23 Hides Many Concerns Over Its Nature

June 1, 2023
IPA Special

BJP Leadership At State, Centre Have Been Stoking Manipur Fire

June 1, 2023
IPA Special

Centre and The Ruling Party Have Lost All Propriety By Defending The Accused BJP MP

June 1, 2023
IPA Special

Brazil President Lula Pushes For Integration At South American Summit

June 1, 2023
IPA Special

The Bloody History Behind The British Possession Of The Koh-i-Noor

June 1, 2023
Politics

DMK to coordinate opposition unity efforts: Stalin

June 1, 2023
Politics

Modi blasts Cong for misleading poor, ‘guarantee habit’

June 1, 2023

An appeal

The legacy of IPA, founded by Nikhil Chakravartty, the doyen of journalism in India, to keep the flag of independent media flying high, is facing the threat of extinction due to the effect of the Covid pandemic. Only an emergency funding can avert such an eventuality. We appeal to all those who believe in the freedom of expression to contribute to this noble cause.
Click here to learn more

Share

Reply

  • 0
More on IPA

Rahul says BJP will be ‘decimated’ in assembly polls

June 2, 2023 12:07 pm | IPA Staff

Rahul Gandhi has said that the BJP will be “decimated” in the next three-four assembly elections by the Congress, emphasising that they have the basic...

Politics

Giriraj Singh calls Rahul Gandhi’s US tour ‘gaali yatra’

June 2, 2023 12:00 pm | IPA Staff

Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the United States has been attracting controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party leading attacks on the Congress party over their leader’s...

Politics

Cong to attend Patna meeting of opposition parties

June 2, 2023 11:33 am | IPA Staff

The Congress on Thursday said it will participate in the June 12 meeting of opposition parties in Patna but is yet to decide on who...

Politics

Islam safe and secure in Bharat, vouches RSS chief

June 2, 2023 12:37 am | IPA Staff

Foreign forces are seeking to divide us and want us to fight but we should not let them win, said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. He...

Politics

Rahul says BJP will be ‘decimated’ in assembly polls

in Politics
Jun 2, 2023   ·  

Giriraj Singh calls Rahul Gandhi’s US tour ‘gaali yatra’

in Politics
Jun 2, 2023   ·  

Cong to attend Patna meeting of opposition parties

in Politics
Jun 2, 2023   ·  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Follow us on
Up Next: 51 ex-, sitting MPs face money laundering trial
©2020 -2021 India Press Agency, All Rights Reserved.
Newspack by India Press Agency | Statement of Ownership | Contact Us
logo
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets