Jaipur: Daily over ten women are getting raped in Rajasthan, a state that has a woman at the helm of its affairs. In Police Headquarters report, it has been stated that in the first 90 days of 2018— at least 966 women have been violated in Rajasthan, while in the state capital, Jaipur– between January 1 to March 31, 183 cases of rape have taken place.
Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Congress National General Secretary Ashok Gehlot, issued a press communiqué and stated on the police report, “It’s a serious issue, given that such a large number of cases of rapes being registered in the state.” Adding that he questioned, “During earlier government, chief minister Vasundhara Raje used to ask to step down such government where a woman had been raped, now will she do the same?”
He also attacked home minister Gulabchand Kataria, by saying, “Kataria only makes tall claims, but in reality nobody listens to him.”
But, it was Raje who remained to be the focus of the former chief minister’s direct attack. He further said, “The woman chief minister has become insensitive. She only talks about women empowerment but in reality women are feeling unsafe. They are fearing to venture out of their homes.”
Gehlot then added on the report, “Girls child are not seen safe in the BJP regime.”
He also mentioned that despite Raje government having passed a bill, which awards a death sentence to rapists of children below the age of 12. There is no law and order in the state. And criminals no longer fear the police. It seems like the chief minister has lost control on the administration.”
Significantly, last few years have not been much better than the ongoing year, according to National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). In the last released data of 2016, Rajasthan had registered almost same number of rape cases. Around 3656 cases of rapes had been registered in Rajasthan in the year 2016.
Rajasthan has assembly elections scheduled in December this year, and it seems that not only lynching of Muslims, atrocities against Dalits but also the occurance of a large number of rape cases are going to become a major issue for the opposition parties.
Because of the gang-rape and rape cases in Kathua and Unnao, across India people are hitting the streets, saying enough is enough against rape cases. However, 2018 records so far says situation for women are not better either in the desert state.
