BJP Gains the Lead Once Again, Has Maximum MPs/MLAs with Serious Criminal Charges

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, all three BJP-ruled states, have maximum number of MLAs with serious criminal charges against them, according to an analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW). The report has revealed that 64 sitting MLAs and MPs, including former chief minister and a minister in the current government, have declared cases of kidnapping/abduction against themselves.

ADR and NEW analysed the affidavits of 4,856 sitting MPs and MLAs – including 770 MPs and 4086 MLAs. Out of these, 1024 (21 per cent) have declared serious criminal charges against themselves, said the report. As per the data, at least 64 (six per cent) ministers have cases of kidnapping registered against them.

“Out of 64 MPs/MLAs with declared charges related to kidnapping, 16 are from BJP and 6 each from INC and RJD,” the report says. As per the state-wise analysis, the highest number of MLAs with declared charges related to kidnapping are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with nine MLAs from each of the two states. While, Maharashtra is on the second spot with kidnapping charges against 8 MLAs.

Besides, five Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs have declared charges related to kidnapping. Sarfaraz Alam of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Bihar, is also in the list with the charge related to kidnapping or abducting in order to murder (IPC Section-364). Rajendra Rathore, Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Parliamentary Affairs and Elections in the Rajasthan government has also been included on the list.

According to the report, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling party, has the highest number of MPs with cases related to kidnapping registered against them, followed by Congress, its primary opposition.

This is not the first such report by ADR. In April 2018, ADR had published a report that highlighted cases of crimes related to women. At least 51 MPs and MLAs were involved in these cases. Party-wise details revealed that the BJP has the highest number of MPs and MLAs (14), followed by the Shiv Sena (7) and the All India Trinamool Congress (6), who have declared cases related to crime against women.

“There are 51 MPs and MLAs who have declared cases of crime against women such as charges related to assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty, kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, rape, husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty, buying minor for purposes of prostitution and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman,” the ADR study said.