BJP protests outside Congress headquarters over Bimol Akoijam case, questions Rahul Gandhi's silence

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest in New Delhi on Monday, targeting the Congress over its response to sexual harassment allegations against its Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who was dismissed from his position as a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) last week following an internal inquiry.

The protest, organised by the BJP's women's wing under the banner of the ‘Nari Shakti Hunkar Andolan’, saw party leaders and workers march towards the Congress headquarters, raise slogans against the Opposition party and burn effigies of Akoijam and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Protesters carried placards bearing the words “marks for sex” and demanded action against the MP.

Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur constituency in the Lok Sabha, has denied the allegations and described his dismissal as a “witch hunt”. The controversy intensified on Monday after Delhi Police registered a case against him on charges relating to sexual harassment and insulting a woman's modesty.

BJP demands action from Congress leadership

BJP leaders accused the Congress of protecting Akoijam and questioned Rahul Gandhi's response to the allegations.

“I want to ask Rahul Gandhi about his deafening silence,” BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj told NDTV during the protest.

“Why is no action taken against the sitting MP of the Congress,” she asked.

Another BJP leader, Tarun Chugh, alleged that Akoijam continued to enjoy the support of Congress leaders despite the accusations.

“Why are [the] Congress protecting someone who has sexually harassed 11 students,” Chugh said at the protest site, according to NDTV.

BJP spokesperson Radhika Khera also demanded a response from the Congress leadership, accusing the party of applying different standards to allegations of misconduct.

“Rahul Gandhi has to speak on this issue and take action,” she said.

Khera, who left the Congress and joined the BJP in 2024, referred to her own experience in the former party while criticising its response to the controversy.

“I am a living example of how women are treated in the Congress party,” she said.

The BJP's Delhi unit also questioned Gandhi's silence on social media, asking why the Congress leader had not addressed the allegations despite his public statements on women's rights and challenging patriarchy.

The demonstration was led by BJP Mahila Morcha national president Rup Kumari Choudhary and Mahila Morcha in-charge Daggubati Purandeswari. The party demanded accountability from the Congress leadership over the allegations involving its MP.

Delhi Police registers case against Akoijam

The protest came on the day Delhi Police registered a first information report (FIR) against Akoijam following a complaint lodged by JNU's chief security officer on October 11.

According to police officials, the case was registered at Vasant Kunj North police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to sexual harassment and insulting the modesty of a woman. The FIR invokes Section 75, including provisions concerning unwelcome physical contact and advances and sexually coloured remarks, as well as Section 79, which deals with acts intended to insult a woman's modesty.

The police case follows an internal inquiry by JNU into complaints made by female students against Akoijam. The allegations are separate from the university's disciplinary proceedings, and the police investigation is under way.

Akoijam was dismissed from university service with immediate effect on October 9. He was a professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems under JNU's School of Social Sciences.

The university's action followed an inquiry into complaints filed by at least 11 female students in May 2026. The university's Internal Committee examined the allegations and recommended major disciplinary action against him.

What the students alleged in their complaints

The students accused Akoijam of inviting them to his campus residence under the pretext of meetings or gatherings and attempting to sexually harass them. Some also alleged that he made obscene and inappropriate remarks during classroom interactions.

According to the complaints and details reported about the inquiry, Akoijam allegedly asked female students about their dating histories and relationships.

Among the questions attributed to him were: “Do you have a boyfriend?”, “What activities do you do with your boyfriend?” and “What is your opinion on affairs?”

He allegedly also asked students what they thought about someone of his age being attracted to someone their age.

The complaints further alleged that he asked students about the meaning of certain terms, including “quickie”, which he reportedly described as “quick sexual intercourse that can be done on top of a table”, accompanied by gestures that students considered inappropriate.

The university's Internal Committee found that the evidence substantially corroborated the allegations and established a recurring pattern of conduct inconsistent with the professional boundaries expected in a teacher-student relationship.

The committee's findings included allegations of sexually suggestive interactions, unwelcome physical contact, inappropriate screening of a sexually explicit film, unnecessary physical proximity and inappropriate informal behaviour towards students.

Following consideration of the committee's findings, the university ordered Akoijam's dismissal with immediate effect. The decision was taken after the inquiry report was considered by the university's Executive Council at its September 30 meeting.

Akoijam calls dismissal a 'witch hunt'

Akoijam has rejected the allegations and challenged the procedure followed by the university. Describing his dismissal as a “witch hunt”, he alleged that politically motivated efforts were being made to silence him.

Speaking on October 9, he said he had not received the inquiry report or the committee's recommendations and had expected to be informed of the findings and given an opportunity to respond.

Referring to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly known as the POSH Act, he questioned whether the university had followed the prescribed procedure in his case.

“Anybody who knows POSH law will know this,” he said, alleging that the university had acted without ensuring that he was aware of the committee's recommendations.

Akoijam also rejected allegations that he had sought sexual favours in exchange for marks and challenged those making the claims to produce evidence.

“All those allegations of sex for marks, show me that. Either in that report or anywhere, show me that,” he said.

Defending his position as a representative of Manipur, he added: “Nobody can silence people of Manipur. I am their voice, because people have given the mandate.”

Akoijam has also questioned the university administration's account of the inquiry and the opportunity he was given to defend himself. He has alleged procedural irregularities, including disputes over communications with the Internal Committee and the evidence presented during the proceedings.

The university, meanwhile, proceeded with his dismissal after considering the committee's findings.

The controversy has now moved beyond the university's disciplinary action, with the registration of an FIR and the BJP's demand that the Congress leadership respond to the allegations against its MP. Akoijam continues to deny the charges, while the police investigation remains under way.