New Delhi, March 26
The Congress on Thursday stated that 44 MPs and MLAs from the BJP are facing serious charges of rape and sexual harassment, accusing the ruling party of shielding the accused under political protection. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba said that several cases involving BJP leaders and their relatives point to a pattern in which the accused receive protection instead of facing action.
Lamba highlighted a case from Goa involving the son of a BJP councillor, who sexually abused 20–30 minor girls over a period of three years. She said the matter came to light only after families of the victims came forward, following which a case was registered under the POCSO Act. She also cited a case from Maharashtra involving self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, who is accused of sexually exploiting 58 women and recording objectionable videos. Referring to a viral video, she noted that the state women’s commission chief was seen washing the feet of the accused, adding that the controversy later led to her resignation.
The Mahila Congress leader listed multiple cases while targeting the BJP, including the Ankita Bhandari murder case in Uttarakhand, where attempts were made to suppress a CBI probe; the Unnao rape case involving convicted former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar; and allegations against former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by women wrestlers. She also referred to a case involving a BJP MLA from Himachal Pradesh accused of sexual misconduct with a minor, and former Haryana minister Sandeep Singh, who is accused of harassment by a woman coach, adding that no action had been taken in these cases.
Lamba questioned the repeated paroles granted to convicted rapist Gurmeet Ram Rahim and flagged political motives behind it. She also referred to cases involving Asaram and the remission granted to convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. She further said that despite prior knowledge of allegations against former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had campaigned for him during elections.
Lamba also referred to the links between Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, ruing the lack of discussion on the issue in Parliament. She also mentioned allegations levelled by Kapil Mishra and Subramanian Swamy involving women in connection with the Prime Minister.
Referring to statements made by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, Alka Lamba said that serious allegations and revelations concerning women have been made in the public domain without any response from the PM, the ruling party or the government. She said, “The statements made by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy regarding women MPs are extremely serious. Despite this, there has been no inquiry into the allegations so far. The question is why the government, the BJP and the women MPs continue to remain silent on such remarks.”
Citing data from PM Modi’s constituency Varanasi, she said 1,686 cases of crimes against women were registered in the past year, adding that such figures reflect a failure of governance. The Congress leader accused the BJP of adopting a “protective approach” towards those accused of sexual crimes, stressing that political considerations override accountability in such cases.
