In the aftermath of the horrific rapes that occurred in the country last week and the extra judicial murders of the accused in the Hyderabad rape case, it is important to once again look at who our lawmakers are and what their credentials are. It becomes contextual after Samajwadi Party Jaya Bachchan had openly called for lynching of the accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case.

According to a report by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) released in May 2019, nearly half of the newly elected Lok Sabha members have criminal charges against them, a 26% increase as compared to 2014 and a 44% increase when compared to 2009. Out of the 539 winners analysed in Lok Sabha 2019, 233 MPs or43% have declared criminal cases against themselves.