Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Wednesday announced that any person facing charges of rape or sexual assault will not be given party tickets in future elections.

Her statement came a day after the Association for Democratic Reforms released a report, saying that six MLAs, including one from BSP, had declared in their sworn affidavits to the Election Commission that they faced charges of rape. According to ADR, BSP MLA from Bulandshahr Mohammad Aleem Khan has rape charges against him.

Mayawati said that her party agrees with the view that those accused of rape should not be fielded by parties in elections. “The BSP will follow this,” she said.

On the suggestion made by Union Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor that revised anti-rape law should be named after the Delhi gangrape victim, Mayawati said, “It could be done but only if the victim’s family has given its approval.” The central government should call an all-party meeting and take a decision in consensus with everyone, she said.

Mayawati said the Delhi incident had come as a shock for the entire nation, but the Centre as well as the state governments were yet to change their attitude to such incidents.

“Soon after that Delhi incident, the Centre should have consulted with the Chief Justice of India and state governments to ensure faster trial of rape cases, justice to the victims and stern action against the accused. But the government only condemned the incident and expressed grief on the victim’s death,” she said.

About the Uttar Pradesh government, Mayawati said that the at least 26 ministers in the SP government have criminal records. “More than 1,500 incidents of rape and other atrocities on women have occurred in the state in the past 10 months. Incidents of loot, kidnapping and communal riots have increased. Police are not registering FIRs in 60 per cent cases,” said Mayawati, adding that UP had become “Crime Pradesh”.