New Delhi: As many as 151 sitting MPs and MLAs have declared instances associated to crimes towards girls of their election affidavits, with West Bengal having the best variety of lawmakers dealing with such instances, based on a current report by a ballot rights physique.
For the report, the Affiliation for Democratic Reforms examined 4,693 out of 4,809 affidavits of sitting MPs and MLAs submitted to the Election Fee of India throughout elections between 2019 and 2024. The organisation recognized 16 MPs and 135 MLAs dealing with instances associated to crimes towards girls.
West Bengal tops the checklist with 25 sitting MPs and MLAs dealing with fees associated to crimes towards girls, adopted by Andhra Pradesh with 21 and Odisha with 17, based on the report that comes amid the nationwide protests over the alleged rape and homicide of a trainee physician in a state-run hospital in Kolkata and sexual assault of two kids in Thane.
In accordance with the report, there are 16 sitting MPs and MLAs who’ve declared instances associated to rape underneath Indian Penal Code (IPC) part 376, which carries a minimal sentence of 10 years and could be prolong to life imprisonment. Of those, two are MPs and 14 MLAs.
The fees embrace repeated offenses towards the identical sufferer, additional underscoring the gravity of those instances.
Amongst political events, the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) has the best variety of representatives (54 MPs and MLAs) with declared instances associated to crimes towards girls, adopted by the Congress with 23 and the Telugu Desam Get together (TDP) with 17, based on the report.
Each BJP and Congress have 5 sitting lawmakers every dealing with rape fees.
The ADR has issued sturdy suggestions in response to those findings. It confused on the necessity for political events to chorus from giving tickets to candidates with legal backgrounds, particularly these with fees of rape and different crimes towards girls.
The report referred to as for the fast-tracking of courtroom instances towards MPs and MLAs, guaranteeing skilled and thorough investigations by police.
The ADR urged voters to keep away from electing candidates with such fees.
