After alleged Kalkaji gang-rape, AAP and Congress question Delhi's law and order

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress on Tuesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government over the capital's law and order situation, after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped at a park in Kalkaji, south Delhi, on Monday evening.

Both parties linked the reported incident of September 21, 2026, to what they described as a wider pattern of crimes against women in the city. The case is at an early stage, and under Indian law every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

AAP: police 'acting as a political tool'

Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said the police were functioning as a political tool instead of acting against criminals operating openly in the city.

"The Delhi Police register two new cases against me every month. The police have so much time, but these cases merely remain registered, and nothing moves beyond that," Mr. Bharadwaj said. "If a girl approaches the police and says that two goons from her neighbourhood are harassing her, the police will not register a case until a rape is committed."

He said the BJP government maintained "complete silence" when such incidents occurred. His claim about the number of cases registered against him could not be independently verified.

Congress cites police data on crimes against women

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said the sexual assault of four minors in the capital within ten days pointed to a worsening law and order situation and to the government's failure to protect women.

"Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's silence on the brutal sexual assaults on minor girls raises questions about the law and order situation in the capital," Mr. Yadav said. "Unfortunately, the capital has turned into a den of criminals, for which Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and [Union] Home Minister Amit Shah cannot escape the blame."

Mr. Yadav said data released by the Delhi Police showed that 1,058 rape cases were registered in 2025, along with 13,396 cases of sexual harassment, torture, molestation, kidnapping and domestic violence. He said the figures had earned the capital the label of "rape capital", a description that is disputed and which he attributed to the scale of reported crimes.

Reported crime figures, however, do not by themselves settle the question. Researchers caution that cities with stronger reporting mechanisms often record higher absolute numbers of such cases, because more survivors come forward to file complaints. Delhi has consistently recorded among the highest absolute figures for crimes against women among Indian cities.

The Congress said it had received no public response from Ms. Gupta or Mr. Shah on the issue. AAP and the Congress are in Opposition in Delhi, while the BJP holds the Delhi government and the Union Home Ministry.

A long-running dispute over who is responsible

Under India's federal arrangement, the Delhi Police reports to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs rather than to the elected Delhi government, which controls other subjects such as health, education and civic services. Both parties have invoked this division of responsibility in previous exchanges over policing in the capital.

Law and order has been a recurring flashpoint in Delhi politics, with parties trading blame after high-profile crimes. Earlier, when AAP was in power in the city, it faced similar criticism from its opponents over policing and women's safety, including on the question of who exercises control over the police.

Police registration of a case is not a finding of guilt, and such trials in India typically take years to conclude. Anyone with information about the Kalkaji incident can contact the police. Emergency assistance is available on the national helpline 112, and women in distress can reach the helpline 181.