Cow vigilantes not ‘convicted’, claims Sinha
RANCHI : Union minister Jayant Sinha on Saturday justified felicitating eight convicted cow vigilantes at his residence on the outskirts of Hazaribag, stating that he was merely ‘honouring the due process of law’. He claimed that since the high court has suspended the sentence and released the accused on bail pending hearing, they should not be condemned.
RANCHI: Union minister Jayant Sinha on Saturday justified felicitating seven convicted cow vigilantes at his residence on the outskirts of Hazaribag, stating that he was merely ‘honouring the due process of law’ by doing so.
The Hazaribag MP clarified his position saying that the high court has suspended the sentence of the accused and released them on bail while admitting their case. The case will once again be re-heard.
“I have repeatedly expressed my misgivings about the fasttrack court’s judgement sentencing each accused to life imprisonment. I am pleased that the honourable high court will hear the matter as a statutory court of appeal to test the correctness of the fast-track court order,” said Sinha in a series of tweets.
He added, “I have full faith in our judicial system and the rule of law. Unfortunately, irresponsible statements are being made about my actions when all that I am doing is honouring the due process of law. Those that are innocent will be spared and the guilty will be appropriately punished.”
Questioning police investigation, Sinha had earlier demanded CBI probe into the matter and also extended financial assistance to the accused to pursue their legal wrangle.
Sinha had on Thursday welcomed the seven cow vigilantes, convicted for lynching a Muslim meat trader in Ramgarh. After their release from jail, the convicts went to Sinha’s residence to meet him. The move invoked criticism from the opposition parties.
“It has been a trend for BJP leaders to support rape victims and murderers and blatantly speak against the judiciary. Their way of spreading social disharmony and supporting criminals is the new model of vikas,” said JMM working president and leader of opposition in Jharkhand, Hemant Soren.
“Jayant Sinha is supposed to be among most educated minister in PM Modi’s cabinet, yet he is even openly supporting those who killed innocent people for no reason. Do they have no work except playing politics on dead bodies and dividing society?” said Jharkhand Congress chief Ajoy Kumar.
The Jharkhand high court on June 29 had granted bail to eight convicted cow vigilantes out of 11, including a BJP leader, serving life imprisonment in Hazaribag central jail for lynching a 55-yearold Muslim trader Alimuddin alias Asgar Ali, accused of transporting beef in his vehicle last year.
A special fast track court in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, in a record six-month time, on March 16 had convicted 11 accused and five days later sentenced them to life imprisonment.
YASHWANT SINHA DOES NOT APPROVE
The former BJP leader said he did not approve of his son’s action.
“Earlier I was the nalayak baap (unworthy father) of a layak beta (worthy son). Now the roles are reversed. This is twitter. I do not approve of my son’s action. But I know even this will lead to further abuse. You can never win,” Yashwant Sinha tweeted.