151 sitting MPs and MLAs face cases of crimes against women, 16 charged with rape: ADR
New Delhi, Aug 21: As many as 151 sitting MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women in their election affidavits, with West Bengal having the highest number of lawmakers facing such cases, according to a recent report by a poll rights body.
For the report, the Association for Democratic Reforms examined 4,693 out of 4,809 affidavits of sitting MPs and MLAs submitted to the Election Commission of India during elections between 2019 and 2024. The organisation identified 16 MPs and 135 MLAs facing cases related to crimes against women.
West Bengal tops the list with 25 sitting MPs and MLAs facing charges related to crimes against women, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 21 and Odisha with 17, according to the report that comes amid the nationwide protests over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a state-run hospital in Kolkata and sexual assault of two children in Thane.
According to the report, there are 16 sitting MPs and MLAs who have declared cases related to rape under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 376, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and can be extend to life imprisonment. Of these, two are MPs and 14 MLAs.
The charges include repeated offenses against the same victim, further underscoring the gravity of these cases.
Among political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the highest number of representatives (54 MPs and MLAs) with declared cases related to crimes against women, followed by the Congress with 23 and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with 17, according to the report.
Both BJP and Congress have five sitting lawmakers each facing rape charges.
The ADR has issued strong recommendations in response to these findings. It stressed on the need for political parties to refrain from giving tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds, especially those with charges of rape and other crimes against women.
The report called for the fast-tracking of court cases against MPs and MLAs, ensuring professional and thorough investigations by police.
The ADR urged voters to avoid electing candidates with such charges.
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Union Budget ignores Kerala, CPI(M) to observe Feb 3 as 'Black Day'
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The ruling CPI(M) on Monday called for observing February 3 as a 'Black Day' across Kerala, protesting what it described as the Centre's "severe neglect" of the state in the Union Budget.
In a press statement, the party state secretariat said the Budget was presented as if Kerala did not exist on the map of India.
It pointed out that Kerala had placed 29 demands before Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ahead of the Budget, but none of them were accepted.
The state did not receive a single long-pending project, the CPI(M) said.
The party criticised the Centre for once again ignoring Kerala's demand for an AIIMS, and for excluding the state from the seven high-speed rail corridors announced for railway development.
It also said no special package was approved for the Vizhinjam port, while Kerala was denied an Ayurveda AIIMS despite being known as the cradle of Ayurveda.
The state was also left out of inland water transport projects.
The CPI(M) said the Budget failed to protect traditional industries in Kerala and did not include the state in announcements on universities and townships.
There was no provision for a rubber price stabilisation fund, nor any mention of the proposed railway coach factory, the party said.
It also accused the Centre of ignoring NRI welfare and scheme workers, including ASHA workers.
The party alleged that the Budget favoured corporate interests, noting that corporate taxes were not increased and the alternate minimum tax for big companies was reduced.
It also criticised cuts in the employment guarantee scheme, saying it would badly affect Kerala.
"There has been no move to strengthen welfare schemes. By completely neglecting the poor, the Budget has delivered yet another blow to Kerala," the CPI(M) said.
As part of the protest, the party said black flags would be hoisted at all booths on February 3 and urged people to participate in demonstrations against what it called an anti-people Budget.
