BJP names ex-NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma as Rajya Sabha candidate from Haryana | Mint

Former chief of National Commission for Women (NCW) Rekha Sharma has been named by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as their Rajya Sabha candidate from Haryana. 

Rekha Sharma, a polarising National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson, ended her tenure on Tuesday, 6 August.

Her tenure was often marked by controversy, and allegations that she ignored atrocities committed against women, particularly in states governed by the BJP.

She had been a member of the commission since August 2015, then held additional charge as chairperson from 29 September 2017 before becoming its chief in 2018. Prior to her appointment as chairperson of the NCW, Sharma was the BJP district secretary and media in-charge for Haryana.

In March 2024, Sharma stirred controversy by accusing American journalist David Josef Volodzko of “defaming” India. Volodzko had shared instances of sexual harassment faced by tourists in India, including retweeting a Spanish vlogger’s account of being gang-raped in Jharkhand while travelling with her husband.

Sharma responded by alleging that Volodzko was fabricating the claims because he had not reported the incidents to the police. She posted, “Did you ever report the incident to the police? If not, then you are completely irresponsible. Writing only on social media and defaming the entire country is not a good choice.” This led several users to accuse Sharma of “victim-blaming” and call for her resignation.

Sharma has been criticised for insensitivity, particularly owing to delays or inadequate responses to sexual violence cases, leading to insufficient justice and support for victims.

Ahead of the May 2024 general elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Sharma, accusing her of being “one of the major conspirators” in the Sandeshkhali incidents, where ruling party leaders in West Bengal were alleged to have committed sexual abuse. The TMC claimed that Sharma and a BJP leader were involved in serious offenses, including forgery, cheating, fraud, criminal intimidation, and conspiracy against innocent women in Sandeshkhali and the electorate in general.

In October 2020, Sharma stirred controversy when she met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in Mumbai to discuss issues such as “rising cases of Love Jihad,” even though her agency had stated it did not maintain specific data on such complaints. At the time, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister was Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena.

In October 2020, Sharma faced strong social media backlash after she called the Noida police’s handling of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to Hathras “unfortunate” and requested an explanation. Congress supporters criticised her for not taking stronger action, while BJP supporters took issue with her addressing the matter at all.

Sharma also came under fire for old tweets from 2011 to 2016 that contained offensive remarks about Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Gandhi family. She claimed her Twitter account had been hacked and had even wished rape upon a man’s family. Additionally, she criticized PM Narendra Modi in a tweet, calling him “a deaf and mute person whose life revolves around mentally challenged women.”

Before her appointment as NCW chairperson, Sharma proposed abolishing confessions in churches to prevent potential blackmailing of women, a stance that the government quickly distanced itself from.