The men were released on Independence Day last year by the Gujarat government with the help of an obsolete law, triggering a wave of condemnation and outrage from the Opposition, activists and the civil society. Bilkis Bano said she was was not informed about the release.
Once released, the men got a hero’s welcome. Some of them were seen sharing stage with a BJP MP and MLA. One of the convicts, Radheshaym Shah, had even started practicing law, which was brought to the attention of the court during the hearing.
At the Supreme Court, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had reserved its verdict in October after an 11-day hearing on the petitions, including the one filed by Bilkis Bano. The court had asked the Centre and the Gujarat government to submit the original records related to the remission.
The Gujarat government had allowed the men to walk free on basis of a 1992 remission policy, which has since been superseded by a law in 2014 which bars releases in cases of capital offence.
The state had consulted a panel that included men linked to the state’s ruling BJP, after the top court asked it to take a call on the plea of a single convict, Radheshaym Shah.
The panel had justified their decision calling the men “sanskari (cultured) Brahmins” who have already served 14 years in prison and displayed good behaviour.
A series of petitions were filed against the release of the convicts. The petitioners include Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra, CPM Politburo member Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul and former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma and others.
“The convicts’ death penalty was commuted to life imprisonment. How could they be released after serving 14 years in such a situation? Why are other prisoners not given the relief of release?” the top court had questioned during the hearing, commenting that the Gujarat government is on “thin ice” over the early release.
On behalf of the Gujarat government, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju said since the men were convicted in 2008, they had to be considered under the 1992 policy.
Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months’ pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing during the communal riots that broke out after the fire in Sabarmati Express in which 59  kar sevaks were killed. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members slaughtered in the riots.

As the row between Maldives and India continues to spiral after three now-suspended Maldivian ministers made derogatory remarks against PM Modi and India, former Deputy Speaker of the island nation Eva Abdulla on Sunday labelled the comments as “shameful and racist”. The ex speaker also apologised to India and requested Indians to end the boycott campaign against Maldives.

Talking to NDTV, Ms Abdulla, who is also a sitting MP, said the outrage over the comments was understandable. “Indians are rightfully angry. The comments made are outrageous. However, the comments are in no way a reflection of the opinion of the Maldivian people. I’d like to apologise personally to the people of India for the shameful comments made,” she said.

The row

The row began after some Maldivian ministers posted insulting remarks targeting India and PM Modi for posting photos and videos from his visit to Lakshadweep where he was seen snorkelling and relaxing on the pristine beach. His posts prompted social media users to choose Lakshadweep as an alternate holiday destination to the Maldives.

Later, the three ministers Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid were suspended. “Those who made such posts on social media while in government positions have now been suspended from their jobs,” the Maldives government said in a statement.

India-Maldives Ties

Ties between the two nations have been strained ever since Mohamed Muizzu, seen largely as a pro-China leader, was elected President. Following his election to the top post, Muizzu pushed for the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives on the grounds of security. The president is also on a state visit to China from January 8 to 12.

Ms Abdulla also reiterated the importance of strong India-Maldives ties and said the island nation depended on “long-standing ally” India for economic gains, trade, education and tourism. “This is not an attitude the Maldivian government can take towards India. I hope these comments are a one-off occurrence and the current administration will come down hard on anyone who has made such comments so they can not be expressed again,” she said.

Boycott Campaign

The Maldivian MP also appealed to the Indian people to end the #BoycottMaldives campaign and “come back” to the islands for holidays. After the row began, many Indians on social media claimed that they cancelled their planned holidays to the island nation and several Bollywood celebrities also pitched Lakshadweep as an alternate tourist destination.

“Comments from one or two people should not be a reflection of the way Maldivian people see India. We want to ask Indians to return to Maldives and end the boycott campaign,” she said.

India has summoned the Maldives envoy after three ministers of the island nation made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Maldivian lawmaker criticised PM Modi following his Lakshadweep trip inferring that New Delhi is attempting to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives. Two other Maldivian ministers also shared derogatory remarks along with PM Modi’s photos from Lakshadweep.

The statements followed massive outrage within the Maldives with several prominent leaders criticising the remarks against the nation’s “closest neighbour”. Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed described the remarks as “appalling” and asked President Mohamed Muizzu’s government to distance itself from these comments.

The Maldivian government has suspended three ministers after several Indians on social media claimed to have cancelled their scheduled vacation to the nation made up of more than a hundred islands dotted with luxury resorts.

Ministers Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid have been suspended.