MUMBAI: It is wrong if a person accused of a crime is "felicitated and welcomed", deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday on the welcome accorded to convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. He made the statement while replying to a discussion in the council on the June 30 Bhandara rape incident.
Stating that the men in Bilkis case had been freed after they had served their 14-year term on a decision of the SC, Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, said, "However, there was no need to felicitate and welcome them. After all, a convict is a convict. Cannot support such actions."
The NCP's Amol Mitkari, who raised the issue, said, "The Bilkis case is under discussion in the country. Eleven convicts were released and felicitated. Bilkis said justice has not been done to her. It is important that society's faith in the law is raised and therefore it is important that the Shakti law is approved."
Making a strong case for the implementation of the Shakti law, he said a minor was raped by 3 men in Indapur on Monday and in Shahpur, a woman was assaulted using nimbu (black magic). "If superstition is used to assault women, it's a matter of shame for the state... If we can say Har Ghar Tiranga, then in every home women must get justice." Mitkari said.
