BJP accounts for nearly 50% of hate speech cases against MPs, MLAs: Report

A total of 58 current MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to hate speech, with BJP having the maximum number of such politicians, a report released by Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said today. ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs prior to the last election they contested, and collated cases related to hate speech declared by the MPs and MLAs.

BJP has 27 MPs, MLAs with such cases. No other party comes close. In second place are Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), with 6 each. Unsurprisingly, a state-by-state analysis showed that Uttar Pradesh (15) and Telangana (13) account for 28 out of the 58 cases. Both TRS and AIMIM are largely Telangana-bases parties. The BJP accounts for 68 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked BJP leaders to refrain from making "irresponsible" statements, saying such comments hurt the party's image.

Ten sitting Lok Sabha MPs with such declared cases are from BJP, and one each from All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), TRS, Pattali Makkall Katchi (PMK), AIMIM and Shiv Sena (SHS), said the report.

There are 43 sitting MLAs who have declared hate speech cases. Of these, 17 sitting MLAs are from BJP, five each are from TRS and AIMIM, three from TDP, two each from Congress, Trinamool Congress (AITC), Janata Dal (United) and SHS, one each from DMK, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party, the report added.

ADR said it believes that strict action must be taken against the candidates giving hate speech prior and during elections, and against the elected legislators even after elections, if found guilty of indulging in hate speech.

"Political parties must not give tickets to candidates who have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast tracked and decided upon in a time bound manner," ADR said in its recommendations.

Some findings of the report:

• 15 sitting Lok Sabha MPs have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves.
• No Rajya Sabha MPs have declared cases related to hate speech
• Ten sitting Lok Sabha MPs with such declared cases are from BJP
• Besides the 58 legislators from political parties, two Independent MLAs have also declared hate speech cases
• Telugu Desam Party and Shiv Sena both account for 3 each out of the 58 cases
• Congress, AITC and JD(U) account for 2 each out of the 58 cases
• AIUDF, BSP, DMK, PMK and SP all account for 1 each out of the 58 cases
• In the last five years, 198 candidates with declared cases related to hate speech have contested elections for state assemblies and Parliament
• In the last five years, 28 independent candidates with declared cases related to hate speech have contested elections for state assemblies and Parliament.

Inputs by NH Web Desk