The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee for announcing to stage a two-day protest in Kolkata to condemn the release of rape convicts in the Bilkis Bano case and ignoring the plight of the women allegedly raped during the post-poll violence in 2021.
BJP spokesperson Shatopura criticised Banerjee for ‘forgetting’ the alleged sexual assault incidents that took place after the TMC registered an emphatic win in 2021 West Bengal Assembly election.
She has shown no sensitivity towards the alleged rape cases in Bengal post the election results were out. As a woman she should feel the pain on the women who were sexually assaulted in Bengal and concentrate in in her own state, the BJP spokesperson said.
The two-day dharna by the TMC will be headed by two women leaders of the party and the ruling outfit will urge the Supreme Court to revert its decision on remission of the Bilkis Bano case convicts.
Addressing a rally of her party’s student wing, Banerjee launched a blistering attack on the Bsaffron party, saying, “The BJP talks about ‘Beti Bachao’ and ‘Beti Padhao’ and its government released those involved in Bilkis Bano case. Is this justice? We will organise 48-hour long dharna here in Kolkata to press for action against the accused.”
Several political parties including the TMC has been hitting out at the saffron party over the premature release of 11 convicts by the Gujarat government, who were serving life-term in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case.
The Supreme Court sought a response from the BJP-led Gujarat government on a plea challenging the release of 11 men convicted for the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and multiple murders during the 2002 Gujarat riots
