42 lakh cases in 10 years, Congress targets Modi govt over crimes against women

The Congress on Friday alleged that crimes against women, children, Dalits and tribals have increased sharply during the Narendra Modi government’s tenure, citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data to claim that the Centre’s promises on women’s safety and law and order had failed on the ground.

The party said more than 42 lakh crimes against women were registered across the country between 2014 and 2024 and demanded a detailed discussion on the issue during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said NCRB figures since 2013 showed a 42.6 per cent rise in crimes against women, a 204.6 per cent increase in crimes against children, a 41.3 per cent rise in atrocities against Dalits and a 46.7 per cent increase in crimes against adivasis. He also claimed that cybercrime cases had risen by 1,689 per cent during the period.

Kharge further said 10,546 farmers, 52,931 daily wage labourers and 14,488 students died by suicide in 2024, alleging that “12 years of the Modi government have exposed the hollowness” of its claims on law and order and women’s safety.

Addressing a separate press conference in Delhi, Mahila Congress national president Alka Lamba alleged that over 42 lakh crimes against women were registered across the country during the first 10 years of the Modi government.

Citing NCRB data, Lamba said 42,85,888 cases of crimes against women were recorded between 2014 and 2024.

She claimed that annual crimes against women increased from 3.4 lakh in 2014 to nearly 4.42 lakh in 2024, alleging that the BJP government had failed to ensure women’s safety despite repeated promises.

Lamba said nearly 10 Dalit women were raped every day in the country, while one rape was reported every 70 minutes. She alleged that women continued to face insecurity in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi.

Taking aim at the BJP’s “Beti Bachao” campaign, she alleged that slogans such as “Nari Vandan” were being used politically while influential accused were being protected instead of punished.

Referring to NCRB figures, she said Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of crimes against women with over 66,000 cases, followed by Maharashtra with nearly 48,000 and Rajasthan with more than 36,000 cases. She added that Madhya Pradesh and Bihar also reported high numbers of such crimes.

Referring to an alleged gangrape case involving a minor in Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s constituency Champawat, Lamba alleged that the victim’s family was being pressured for a compromise, while the accused remained free. She claimed the police had detained the victim’s father and restricted the girl from meeting people instead of acting against the accused.

She also referred to the Ankita Bhandari murder case and alleged that justice could not be expected under the BJP government in Uttarakhand, demanding an impartial probe outside the state.

She further referred to a rape case involving a minor against BJP MLA Hansraj and alleged that the ruling party was attempting to shield him. Mentioning the Bilkis Bano case, Lamba alleged that convicts in gangrape cases were being given life imprisonment instead of capital punishment and later released.

She said the government should disclose not only the number of crimes registered, but also how many victims had received justice and how many accused, particularly in POCSO cases, had been awarded capital punishment.