Bengaluru: A unique signature campaign was organised on Monday in support of 2002 Gujarat riots survivor Bilkis Banu, whose rapists have been granted remission.
The campaign saw over 40,000 people from almost all districts of Karnataka personally sign on a petition that was sent by post to Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit. The petition asked him to cancel the remission order granted to 11 convicts who were imprisoned for life in the Bilkis Banu case. The campaign was organised without using social media. Conversations to educate people about the issue were conducted on the streets, in slums, malls, apartment complexes, auto stands and other public places. People from various walks of life — families, office workers, labour unions, sex worker unions, minorities, pourakarmikas, etc — engaged. “Hundreds of individuals, organisations and democratic-minded people have come together in solidarity with Bilkis Banu. Our demand is that the 11 culprits be sent back to jail...” said Shobha from All-India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan, one of the organisers.
— Tarunya Sanjay