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BJP has the highest number of MPs/ MLAs with Declared Cases Related to Crimes against Women!

Source: Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)

The crime against women is increasing and hogging the headlines. The scale of such crimes is very wide and varied. A huge number of decision makers committed and still abetting severe crime against women. With increasing usages of the internet and social media, many of such cases are becoming viral but there is a striking similarity – a biased administration towards the victims and their families.

In the backdrop of the Unnav Fallout, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have analyzed 4845 out of 4896 election affidavits of current MPs and MLAs. It includes 768 out of 776 affidavits of MPs and 4077 out of 4120 MLAs from all the states of India.

For a complete report with details of IPC sections related to crimes against women declared by sitting Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha MPs and Members of Legislative Assemblies, please refer to https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-mpsmlas-declared-cases-related-crimes-against-women-1

Summary and Highlights

  • Out of 1580(33%) MPs/ MLAs analysed with declared criminal cases, 48 have declared cases related to crimes against women.
  • Among these 48 MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Crimes s against women, 45 are MLAs and 3 are MPs.
  • 327 candidates analysed who had declared cases related to crimes against women, were given tickets by recognized political parties.
  • 118 independent candidates analysed with declared cases related to crimes against women had contested for Lok/Rajya and state assemblies’ elections in last 5 years.
  • Among these candidates, 40 candidates were given tickets by parties for Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha elections. Various recognized parties have given tickets to 287 candidates with cases related to crimes against women for state assemblies’ elections.
  • In the last 5 years, 18 independent candidates with declared cases related to crimes against women contested in the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha Elections. Similarly, 100 independent candidates with declared cases related to crimes against women contested in the state assemblies’ elections.
  • Among the states, Maharashtra has the highest number of MPs/ MLAs i.e. 12, followed by West Bengal with 11, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh each with 5 MPs/MLAs who have declared cases related crimes against women.
  • Among the states in the last 5 years, Maharashtra has the highest number of candidates i.e. 65, followed by Bihar with 62 and West Bengal with 52 candidates who were given tickets by political parties even though they have declared cases related to crimes against women in their affidavits.
  • Among various recognized parties, BJP has the highest number of MPs/ MLAs i.e. 12, followed by SHS (Shiv Sena) with 7 and AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) with 6 MPs/MLAs who have declared cases related crimes against women.
  • Among the major parties in the last 5 years, 47 candidates with declared cases related to crimes against women were given tickets by BJP. The second highest number of candidates, i.e. 35 who had declared cases related to crimes against women were given tickets by BSP, followed by 24 candidates from INC who had declared cases related to crimes against women who had contested for Lok/Rajya Sabha and State Assemblies Elections in last 5 years.
  • Following are 3 MLAs who have declared cases related to rape :
  • Gonuguntla Suryanarayana from TDP who has won from Dharmavaram constituency in Andhra Pradesh (2014)
  • Jethabhai G. Ahir from BJP who has won from Shehra constituency in Gujarat (2017)
  • Gulab Yadav from RJD who has won from Jhanjharpur constituency in Bihar(2015)
  • In the last 5 years, recognized parties have given tickets to 26 candidates who had declared cases related to rape.
  • In the last 5 years, 14 independent candidates with declared cases related to rape have contested for Lok/Rajya Sabha and State assemblies’ elections.

 

Recommendations of ADR

All major political parties give tickets to candidates with cases of crimes against women especially rape and therefore hindering the safety and dignity of women as citizens. These are serious cases where charges have been framed and cognizance have been taken by the courts. Hence, political parties have been in a way abetting to circumstances that lead to such events that they so easily but vehemently condemn in Parliament’. ADR and NEW strongly recommend that:

  • Candidates with a serious criminal background should be debarred from contesting elections.
  • Political parties should disclose the criteria for which candidates are given tickets.
  • Cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast-tracked and decided upon in a time-bound manner.

 

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