NEW DELHI, Oct. 12 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday staged a protest in Delhi against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who was dismissed from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) following an internal inquiry into sexual harassment complaints by female students. The protesters accused the Congress leadership of shielding the parliamentarian and demanded that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi break his silence and initiate action against him.
BJP leaders raised slogans against Akoijam and Gandhi while carrying placards referring to allegations of sexual favours being sought in exchange for academic marks. The protest came as Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Inner Manipur MP under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to sexual harassment and insulting the modesty of a woman. Akoijam has denied the allegations and questioned the fairness of the university's disciplinary proceedings.
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BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj questioned the Congress leadership's response to the allegations, asking why no disciplinary action had been initiated against the sitting parliamentarian. Speaking during the demonstration, she criticised Gandhi's silence and demanded accountability from the party.
BJP leader Tarun Chugh also accused Congress leaders of protecting Akoijam despite complaints from 11 female students. He questioned why the party had not publicly addressed the allegations or taken action against the MP.
BJP spokesperson Radhika Khera said the Congress could not adopt different standards when allegations of sexual harassment involved its own representatives. She demanded that Gandhi respond to the controversy and take appropriate action. Khera, who left the Congress and joined the BJP in 2024, also referred to her own experience in the party while criticising its handling of complaints involving women.
The BJP's protest followed similar demonstrations by its women's wing in Chandigarh, where party workers demanded action against Akoijam and questioned the Congress leadership's position on women's safety.
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Akoijam, who served as a professor at JNU's Centre for the Study of Social Systems under the School of Social Sciences, was dismissed from university service on October 9 following an inquiry by its Internal Committee. The committee had examined complaints filed by female students in May and recommended major disciplinary action under the applicable service rules.
According to the university's dismissal order, the committee's findings were considered before the administration decided to terminate his services with immediate effect. JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit maintained that the decision had been taken after following due process.
At least 11 female students had accused Akoijam of inappropriate conduct, including sexually suggestive conversations, unwelcome physical proximity and inappropriate remarks during academic interactions. Some complainants alleged that he had invited students to his campus residence under the pretext of meetings or informal gatherings and asked intrusive questions about their personal relationships.
The internal committee reportedly found evidence supporting allegations of conduct inconsistent with the professional boundaries expected in a teacher-student relationship. The complaints also referred to alleged inappropriate physical contact and the screening of sexually explicit material.
The allegations concerning sexual favours in exchange for marks have been prominently raised during political protests. However, Akoijam has specifically denied those accusations and challenged his critics to produce evidence supporting them.
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Delhi Police registered an FIR at Vasant Kunj North police station following a complaint lodged by JNU's chief security officer on October 11. The case invokes Sections 75, 75(1)(i), 75(1)(iv) and 79 of the BNS, which cover sexual harassment and acts or gestures intended to insult a woman's modesty.
Police officials confirmed that an investigation had been initiated into the allegations. The registration of the FIR followed the university's disciplinary action but constitutes a separate criminal proceeding.
The police investigation will examine the complaints and evidence under criminal law, independently of the findings reached by JNU's Internal Committee.
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Rejecting the allegations, Akoijam described his dismissal as a politically motivated witch hunt and accused the university administration of procedural irregularities. He maintained that he had not been provided with the committee's findings or given an adequate opportunity to respond before the dismissal order was issued.
The Congress MP also disputed the university administration's account of his cooperation with the inquiry. He said he had submitted a written response to the allegations on May 31 and recorded his deposition on July 16. He further claimed that witnesses supporting his defence had appeared before the committee on August 14.
Akoijam questioned whether the procedures prescribed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, had been followed. He maintained that the allegations were false and malicious and said his legal team would challenge the university's action.
He also rejected claims that he had sought sexual favours in exchange for marks, arguing that the accusation was not supported by the material cited against him. The MP accused sections of the media of conducting a trial by publicity before the allegations had been tested through appropriate legal proceedings.
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The controversy has placed the Congress under political pressure, with BJP leaders demanding a public response from Gandhi and other senior party functionaries. The ruling party has sought to frame the issue around accountability and the treatment of women within educational institutions and political organisations.
The case has also raised questions about institutional disciplinary procedures, the rights of complainants and the safeguards available to those facing allegations. While JNU has acted on the findings of its internal inquiry, the criminal investigation remains underway, and Akoijam continues to contest the accusations.
The outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent legal challenge to the university's dismissal order will determine the next stage of the case.
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Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.