The All India Mahila Congress chief claims that statistics from 2014 to 2024 ‘exposed the reality’ behind the hollowness of the government slogans
NEW DELHI — Launching a sharp attack on the BJP-led Union Government over women’s safety, the All India Mahila Congress cited the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data to allege a steep rise in crimes against women over the past decade. It also accused the ruling party of providing “political protection” to those involved in rape and sexual assault cases.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in the national capital on Friday, Alka Lamba, president of the AIMC, claimed that NCRB statistics from 2014 to 2024 had “exposed the reality” behind government slogans such as “Beti Bachao” and “Nari Vandan.”
She said the data exposed the ugly face of the BJP concerning crime against women.
Quoting NCRB figures, she alleged that more than 42.85 lakh women had registered complaints related to rape, sexual assault and other crimes during the last ten years.
“These are not just numbers. These are women seeking justice, many of whom have spent years running from court to court,” she said.
Gujarat Model and Bilkis Bano Reference
Attacking the BJP over the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, Lamba alleged that the “Gujarat model” promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had effectively become a model of leniency toward those convicted in gang rape cases.
She claimed that while harsh slogans were used publicly, convicted rapists were being granted parole, remission, or protection.
According to Lamba, crimes against women had steadily increased under the BJP government. She claimed that while around 3.4 lakh cases were registered in 2014, the figure rose to nearly 4.42 lakh in 2024. Referring to the NCRB data for 2023, she said more than 4.48 lakh women and girls had lodged complaints of rape, sexual harassment and related offences in a single year.
“Every 70 minutes, a woman or girl is allegedly raped in this country. This is the reality behind the BJP’s model of governance,” she alleged.
BJP-ruled States Under Scrutiny
The AIMC chief singled out several BJP-ruled states, alleging that they ranked among the highest in crimes against women. She claimed that Uttar Pradesh recorded nearly 66,000 complaints, followed by Maharashtra with around 48,000 and Rajasthan with approximately 36,000 cases.
Questioning the pace of justice delivery, Lamba asked how many accused had actually been convicted or awarded capital punishment, particularly in cases involving minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
She also expressed concern over the BJP’s recent political gains in West Bengal, saying the party had campaigned on the plank of women’s safety despite what she described as poor records in BJP-governed states.
Lamba further alleged that Dalit and Adivasi women remained the most vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation. Citing NCRB figures, she claimed that “10 Dalit women are raped every day in India.”
Bihar and Uttarakhand Cases
During the press conference, Lamba referred to a recent alleged gang rape case in Bihar involving a minor girl, claiming the incident took place while BJP leaders were celebrating the swearing-in of a new government in the state.
She also referred to an alleged gang rape case from Champawat in Uttarakhand, alleging that BJP leaders had been named in the FIR and that the victim’s family was facing police pressure to reach a compromise.
Reading from what she said was a letter written by the victim’s relatives to the Superintendent of Police, Lamba alleged that the family had accused the police of coercion and claimed the accused had offered ₹50 lakh for a settlement.
She further accused the Uttarakhand government of attempting to sweep the issue under the carpet to protect its political image.
Drawing parallels with the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Lamba alleged that the BJP governments were protecting the accused instead of ensuring justice for the victims.
Delhi ‘Most Unsafe Metro City’
Replying to a question on NCRB data relating to metropolitan cities, Lamba claimed that Delhi had emerged as the “most unsafe metro city for women in India.”
She alleged that more than 1,060 rape cases involving women and girls were registered in the national capital during 2024–25 and criticised both the Centre and the Delhi government over women’s safety.
“The country witnessed outrage after the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case, but even today, very few accused in rape cases have received the harshest punishment,” she said.
Concerns Over Cybercrimes
Lamba also voiced concern over the growing incidence of cybercrimes and online harassment targeting women. Referring to the alleged AI-generated morphed images of women MPs from the All India Trinamool Congress circulated online after the West Bengal election results, she accused the BJP’s IT machinery of spreading “shameful and abusive content.”
She described online abuse as psychologically devastating and claimed that women increasingly faced insecurity both offline and online.
Demand for Parliamentary Debate
The AIMC president demanded that the issue of crimes against women be taken up seriously during the upcoming session of Parliament and called on the government to disclose how many accused in rape and POCSO cases had actually been convicted or sentenced to death.
“If crimes are rising but punishments are not being delivered, it only emboldens criminals,” she said.
Calling for wider public support for victims, Lamba urged journalists and civil society groups to stand with survivors rather than “powerful accused backed by the system.”
She alleged that many incidents never even reached the FIR stage because of pressure, intimidation and forced compromises.
“These 42 lakh cases are only the registered ones. Countless others never get recorded,” she said.
