From 2009 to 2019, there has been a sharp increase of 850 per cent in the number of MPs with declared cases of crime against women in Lok Sabha.
During the same period, there has been a 231 per cent increase in the number of candidates with declared cases of crime against women contesting in Lok Sabha elections, showed a fresh report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
After analysing 756 MPs and 4,063 MLAs with declared criminal cases, ADR found that 76 MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women. Out of the 76 MPs and MLAs, 58 are MLAs and 18 are MPs.
BJP TOPS LIST, CONGRESS FOLLOWS
Among the various recognised political parties in the country, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tops the list as 21 of its MPs/MLAs have declared criminal offences against women.
Congress is not far behind with 16 MP/MLAs having similar charges; YSRCP follows Congress in the third position as seven of its MPs and MLAs have declared criminal offences against women.
Among the major parties in the last five years, at least 66 candidates with declared cases of crime against women were given BJP tickets. Congress, meanwhile, gave tickets to 46 such candidates while BSP gave tickets to 40 candidates facing charges for criminal offences against women.
CASES RELATED TO RAPE
There are nine MPs/MLAs who have declared cases related to rape. Out of these, three are MPs while six are MLAs.
In the last 5 years, recognized parties have given tickets to 41 candidates who had declared cases related to rape. At least 14 independent candidates with declared cases related to rape have contested for Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
NO CONVICTION
A total of 572 candidates with declared criminal offences against women related contested in Lok Sabha and assembly elections during the last five years. None of these candidates has been convicted yet.
At least 410 candidates with declared cases of crime against women were given tickets by recognized political parties. Among these candidates, 89 candidates were given tickets by parties for general elections and 321 candidates for state assembly elections.
162 independent candidates analysed with declared cases related to crimes against women had contested for Lok/Rajya and state assemblies' elections in the last 5 years.
ADR said its analysis clearly depicts that political parties are not concerned about the issue of crime against women.
In the case of political parties led by women such as Congress, BSP and Trinamool Congress (TMC), the story is no different. All these parties have also fielded candidates with declared criminal offences against women.
Among the states, West Bengal (16) has the highest number of MPs/MLAs with declared cases of crime against women, followed by Odisha (12) and Maharashtra (12).
In the last 5 years, Maharashtra had the highest number of candidates (84) with declared criminal offences against women, followed by Bihar with 75 and West Bengal with 69 (including independents) - all of whom were given tickets by political parties.
ADR has analysed 4,822 election affidavits of current MPs and MLAs. It includes 759 affidavits of MPs and 4,063 MLAs from all the states and union territories over the last five years.
