Bilkis Bano; Lets Re-Visit our conscience not a Verdict.

BILKIS BANO: LETS RE-VISIT OUR CONSCIENCE NOT A VERDICT

We revisited a 20 year Old Conviction, freed convicted rapists with an outdated Policy. The 1992 policy of remission got redacted in 2014. Per new policy Life imprisonment will be served till end of life. This new policy applies to the State of Gujarat. Bilkis Bano was raped in Gujarat, her mother, 3 other women raped in front of her. Bano’s 3-year-old daughter was killed. Compare visuals today of sweet & celebrations of freed offenders.

* LEGAL GRAMMAR AND A CRAFTY CLERK

Envision the mass rape, not a crime of passion nor a random act of anger, a co-ordinated group violating a pregnant woman, raping others, finishing off with murder in Communal venom. These men were neighbours who lived peacefully with Bilkis Bano until the communal flare-up. Can any legal argument hold that fourteen years sentence served is enough for remission. Sweets offered upon exit gives it a shade of Respectable exoneration. Is an abrupt pardon from imprisonment just? Every prisoner has a indefensible right to appeal, this is no individual who underwent remorse in incarceration. Almost a dozen individuals took turns to rape and bleed children to death, we offered them clemency? We need not term any case rarest of rare, compare it with Nirbhaya or get busy in legal lingo. Just like a crafty clerk the state shuffled 2 policy documents. The world is watching the state carefully juggle documents, let the convicted walk.

* RE-EXAMINING OUR CONSCIENCE

There is policy watch, legal talk, jurisdiction, state v/s central and more and there is a our inner-self questioning whether this act was reinforcing to our women and children. Our responsibility to defend every woman and child- has hit a pause button. If the Centre can track down economic offender to any corner, it also is guardian of all. Above all state is a MORAL CUSTODIAN.

* SECURITY AND RETRIBUTION

Will all 11 pardoned convicts find gainful employment. What ensures they or their friends will not act in retribution to Ms. Bilkis Bano or her family. Would all 11 released would have thawed anger with promise to reset their life with some remorse. Community setting in Lower middle class India does allow for much privacy and personal security, would all 11 who walked settle back into the same neighbourhood forgetting wounds.

* APPEAL: LETS NOT GAME THE SYSTEM

Raisina Hill and Centre possess overarching power over the Union. Let message on 75th anniversary of the Nation be, the state is a guardian. Let no one game our system, our conscience is above all a strong pillar of our democracy and values.