Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari has raised serious concerns over the state’s alarming incidence of rape, asserting that a rape occurs every 17 minutes—a claim that underscores a significant law and order crisis. Patwari attributes this dire situation to the failure of the state government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the Home Minister portfolio.
Addressing reporters on Monday, Patwari highlighted a recent incident involving BJP leader Yogendra Singh Solanki from Vidisha district, who has been accused of raping a woman. He questioned the recurring involvement of BJP leaders in such cases, stating, “There are hundreds of such cases (related to rape) in the state; why do only names of BJP leaders come up in these cases?”
Patwari cited multiple instances to support his claims:
Balaghat District: A woman teacher was allegedly raped by a BJP leader ten days prior.
Mhow Incident: In October, women associated with army personnel were reportedly assaulted, with relatives of BJP leaders implicated.
Datia District: Two women were assaulted, and one was gang-raped, allegedly involving a BJP leader and associates.
Jabalpur: A 28-year-old woman was allegedly raped under the pretext of job assistance, leading to an FIR against BJP leader Shashikant Soni.
Similar allegations have emerged from Betul, Niwari, Mandsaur, and Hoshangabad districts. Patwari emphasized that many cases remain suppressed due to political pressure, citing an incident in Ujjain, the Chief Minister’s home district, where a rape occurred on a footpath.
He criticized Chief Minister Yadav’s silence and inaction, urging the state government to address the escalating crisis. Patwari further alleged that the BJP government has consistently failed to take legal action against accused party members, opting instead to protect them. He expressed concerns that in the recent Vidisha case, party leaders might be attempting to shield the accused.
These allegations come amid reports that Madhya Pradesh has one of the highest rates of reported rape cases in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the state registered 2,947 rape cases in 2021, ranking second only to Rajasthan.
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The state government has yet to respond to Patwari’s allegations. The recurrence of such incidents and the alleged involvement of political figures have intensified scrutiny of the administration’s commitment to ensuring women’s safety and upholding justice.
