By Geetha V P & Nanditha Subhadra
Narendra Modi has long championed “women-led development” (mahila-led vikas) as a cornerstone of India’s progress, frequently invoking the Hindi phrase “Nari Shakti” (women’s power) to portray women as the driving force behind the nation’s growth. From his 2014 campaign slogan “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) to repeated emphases in speeches and policies, Modi has positioned women’s empowerment not merely as welfare but as a transformative engine for societal advancement. Yet, a decade into his tenure, this narrative stands in stark contrast to the grim reality: women remain on the receiving end of escalating violence, with rape, molestation, and other crimes forming a relentless and unending saga. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals not empowerment but endangerment, exposing Modi’s guarantees as little more than rhetorical flourishes. Under the BJP-led government, crimes against women have surged alarmingly, marked by impunity for perpetrators and systemic lapses. This article delves into the damning statistics from 2014 to December 2025, spotlights incidents involving BJP and Sangh Parivar affiliates, and highlights the pervasive pattern of unpunished offenders, substantiated by NCRB reports and other reliable sources.
The NCRB’s annual “Crime in India” reports paint a damning picture of escalation. In 2014, the year Modi assumed office, total reported crimes against women stood at 337,922, with a crime rate of 56.3 per lakh women population. By 2015, the figure dipped slightly to 327,394, but this proved temporary. The numbers began climbing steadily: 338,954 in 2016, reaching 405,861 in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw a dip to 371,503 cases, likely due to underreporting amid lockdowns, but the upward trajectory resumed post-pandemic. In 2021, cases surged to 428,278, followed by 445,256 in 2022 – a 4% increase from the previous year. By 2023, the total climbed to 448,211, reflecting a crime rate of 66.2 per lakh women. This represents over a 30% rise in total crimes since 2014, far outpacing population growth and contradicting claims of improved safety.
As of December 2025, preliminary NCRB data for 2024 indicates a further uptick, with estimates around 460,000 cases based on mid-year trends reported in media analyses, though full figures are pending release. For 2025, while comprehensive statistics are not yet finalized, quarterly reports from states suggest continued escalation, with high-profile cases in Kolkata, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka highlighting a national epidemic. The NCRB notes that major categories driving this surge include cruelty by husband or relatives (31.4% of cases in 2022), kidnapping and abduction (19.2%), assault with intent to outrage modesty (18.7%), and rape (7.1%). Rape cases alone have shown volatility but overall growth: from 36,735 in 2014 to 38,947 in 2016, dipping to 28,147 in 2020, then rising to 31,677 in 2021 and stabilizing around 31,000-32,000 annually through 2023. Between 2014 and 2022, a staggering 299,520 rape cases were reported nationwide. Crimes against children, including child rape, have also spiked, with NCRB data showing an 82% increase in child sexual offenses from 2015 to 2016 alone, and continued hikes thereafter.
This statistical surge is compounded by specific incidents that expose political complicity and impunity, particularly involving individuals associated with the BJP or Sangh Parivar. The 2017 Unnao rape case exemplifies this: a 17-year-old girl was gang-raped by then-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his accomplices. Despite initial police reluctance, Sengar was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, in December 2025, the Delhi High Court suspended his sentence, sparking outrage and protests over victim safety. Sengar’s brother was also implicated, and the case involved attempts to intimidate the victim, including a car accident that killed her relatives. Critics point to BJP’s delayed action – Sengar was expelled only after public pressure – as evidence of protection for party loyalists.
Similarly, the 2023 wrestlers’ protest against former BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh highlighted systemic molestation. Six female wrestlers, including Olympic medalists, accused Singh of sexual harassment, including assaulting a minor. Delhi courts framed charges in May 2024, but the POCSO case against him was closed in May 2025, allowing him to evade full accountability. Singh, a six-time MP, continued public appearances, even as a guest at wrestling events in November 2025, underscoring impunity. The Kathua case in 2018, where an 8-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Jammu, saw BJP ministers rallying in support of the accused, further fueling perceptions of communal bias and protection for Sangh-affiliated criminals.
These are not isolated; NCRB data reveals a broader pattern of impunity. Conviction rates for crimes against women remain abysmally low, hovering at 27-28% for rape cases from 2018-2022. Nationally, acquittals in such cases surged to 19,005 in 2023 from 7,996 in 2022 in some states, reflecting judicial delays and weak prosecutions. Reports from human rights groups note that culprits, especially those with political ties, often walk free, as seen in cases like Prajwal Revanna (JD(S)-BJP alliance) accused of mass sexual assaults in 2024. Dalit women face even worse: a 45% surge in rapes against them from 2015-2020, with atrocities accounting for 15.32% of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act cases from 2014-2022.
The NCRB attributes some increases to better reporting, but this doesn’t explain the absolute escalation or low convictions. Under Modi’s tenure, initiatives like fast-track courts (750 operational as of October 2024) have been touted, yet pendency remains high. Women’s groups argue that the government’s focus on slogans over substantive reforms – like strengthening police sensitivity or addressing patriarchal norms – has failed. As India steps into 2026, the data demands accountability: Modi’s “guarantee” on women’s safety has proven illusory, leaving millions vulnerable amid unchecked violence.
