New Delhi, July 9: The BJP on Wednesday criticised Jamiat Ulema e Hind president Arshad Madani for questioning the Gujarat High Court verdict in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case. The party alleged that Madani defended the convicts because of their religion and accused the Congress of supporting such voices through vote bank politics.
The political exchange followed the Gujarat High Court’s decision to uphold a special court’s 2022 verdict in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case. The High Court confirmed the death penalty for 38 convicts and life imprisonment for 11 others. It also directed the Gujarat government to compensate the families of the victims.
In a post on X, Arshad Madani described the verdict as “highly unexpected and disappointing.” He said Jamiat Ulema e Hind would immediately approach the Supreme Court to seek a stay on the death sentences and had instructed senior criminal law experts to initiate legal proceedings.
BJP spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla accused Madani of sympathising with the convicts because of their faith. He also alleged that the Congress had repeatedly defended individuals convicted in terrorism related cases instead of standing with victims.
Another BJP spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, described Madani as the “B team” of the Congress. He alleged that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party were promoting appeasement politics by defending those convicted in terror cases.
Bhandari also referred to past terror related cases and criticised opposition parties over their alleged handling of such matters.
The special court’s February 2022 judgment was the first in India to award the death penalty to such a large number of convicts in a single case. The convicted persons include former Students Islamic Movement of India leader Safdar Nagori and his associates.
Meanwhile, counsel representing the convicts said they would challenge the Gujarat High Court verdict before the Supreme Court after examining the detailed judgment.
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