SHILLONG, Aug 22: The forum Concerned Citizens of Meghalaya (CCM) has voiced its strong opposition to the pre-mature release of 11 convicted rapists and murderers by the Gujarat government and urged President Draupadi Murmu to revoke their release order.
“We stand in support and solidarity with Bilkis Bano’s 20-year struggle for justice and demand justice for her and respect for her struggles. We also strongly call upon you to undo this socially destructive, legally untenable and morally demeaning miscarriage and travesty of justice,” CCM said in their appeal to the President.
“We appeal to you as a head of a secular republic called India to uphold the dignity of this nation and show us that India at 75 can still be counted among the nations that uphold gender and social justice and can stand by moral, ethical and legal commitments,” she said.
CCM also mentioned that the PM’s speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 surpassed all other crescendos rising to an especially tear jerking emotional octave in talking about women’s rights, women’s dignity and Nari Shakti!
“At the same time in an unbelievable contrast to this commitment to gender justice the state of Gujarat executed the most horrendous and unconscionable action by the premature release of 11 convicts in the gang-rape and mass murderers in the Bilkis Bano case,” CCM said.
Talking to The Shillong Times on Monday, chairperson of the Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment (MACWE) Ampareen Lyngdoh said she joins hands with citizens of the state to call attention to the various issues raised by the CCM.
“The action could have irrevocable repercussions in future interpretation of the law and could further dilute penalties pronounced against perpetrators of rape,” Lyngdoh said.
Echoing similar views, chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) chairperson Iamon M Syiem said the unspeakable horror of people in power, devoid of soul and conscience, who hurls justice on to the face of a wounded humanity, is no less than the horror of the rape and murder of the most vulnerable in the society.
“We cannot remain silent else we kill all hope of what we hold most dear – justice and fairness, compassion, integrity and faith that right will always prevail in the end,” Syiem said.
She appealed to those with the power to revoke the premature release of the criminals to restore faith in the system of justice, so that it will not set a precedent for lawlessness in future.
Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) president Agnes Kharshiing said murder and rape are heinous crimes and a civil society should not promote these crimes, and that is why very strong laws are made so that such precedence is curbed.
“Release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case is setting a bad precedent and it sends a bad signal to society where they feel they can rape and get away by oiling political powers,” Kharshiing said.
Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) called upon the central government to undo this socially destructive, legally untenable and morally demeaning miscarriage and travesty of justice.
“We call on people of Meghalaya to join the call for repealing the premature release by endorsing a letter which we will be sending to the President of India. The letter for endorsements will be shared across social media platforms or persons wanting to join this signature campaign can also message on 9863097754,” TUR member Angela Rangad said.
“We in Meghalaya need to remind ourselves that the MDA Government consists of members belonging to the same party that facilitated this miscarriage of justice. We call upon the state government to condemn this anti-minority and anti-woman action that goes against all principles of justice and rule of law,” Rangad said.
