151 current MPs and MLAs in the country have given information about cases related to crime against women in their election affidavits. Among these, the number of MPs and MLAs of West Bengal is the highest. This information was given in a report of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
This report has come at a time when nationwide protests are taking place over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata and the sexual assault of two girls in Thane.
ADR- Association for Democratic Reforms is an apolitical, non-partisan, non profit organisation in India, which is working on electoral and political reforms in India for over 25 years.
ADR examined 4,693 out of 4,809 affidavits of current MPs and MLAs submitted to the Election Commission during the elections between 2019 and 2024. After which 16 MPs and 135 MLAs facing cases related to crime against women were marked.
According to the report, West Bengal tops the list with 25 MPs and MLAs facing charges related to crime against women, followed by 21 in Andhra Pradesh and 17 MPs-MLAs in Odisha. How gruesome it is to know that the state administrated by a Women for more than from 2011 is at top of ADR report in terms of crime against women.
According to the report, there are 16 sitting MPs and MLAs who have reported cases related to rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which carries a minimum punishment of 10 years and can be extended to life imprisonment. Of these, there are two MPs and 14 MLAs. The allegations also include repeated incidents of crime against the same victim, which further underlines the seriousness of these cases.
According to the report, among the political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the highest number of 54 MPs and MLAs against whom cases related to crimes against women are registered. This is followed by 23 MPs and MLAs of Congress and 17 MPs-MLAs of Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Both the BJP and the Congress have five sitting MPs and MLAs facing rape charges.
ADR, an organisation working for electoral reforms, has stressed the need for political parties to refrain from giving tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds, especially those accused of rape and other crimes against women. The report calls for speedy trial of court cases against MPs and MLAs and ensuring professional and thorough investigation by the police.