The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, 10 October demanded to know why the Indian National Congress had not expelled its Manipur MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam from the party, after Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) dismissed him with immediate effect following an internal inquiry into sexual harassment allegations filed by 13 female students.

BJP's Charges Against Congress

BJP leader Harsh Malhotra said Akoijam — a sitting Congress MP and former JNU professor — had brought disrepute to the teaching community. 'Teachers and professors are not only supposed to impart education, but they are also required to teach morality and adhere to it themselves. Thirteen female students from JNU have levelled sexual harassment allegations against him, which a committee at the university investigated and found him guilty of, resulting in his dismissal from JNU,' Malhotra said.

The BJP leader alleged that Akoijam shared close ties with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and argued this proximity made the party's silence all the more telling. 'I want to ask Rahul Gandhi: since Akoijam is considered very close to Rahul Gandhi and is his close aide, then why hasn't he been dismissed from the Congress party yet? How long will Rahul Gandhi's double standards continue? Whenever someone from their own side is corrupt or guilty of misconduct, they maintain complete silence,' Malhotra said.

Malhotra further stated that women in Delhi were waiting for Rahul Gandhi to take personal and decisive action against the MP.

Malhotra's Broadside on Kharge's Remarks

The BJP leader also turned his fire on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who earlier on Saturday criticised the Union government in a post on social media platform X, alleging that students, journalists, lawyers, social activists, farmers' union leaders, and content creators were being detained for questioning the government. 'Modi Govt has turned the 'Mother of Democracy' into a 'Muzzled Democracy'! The cowardice of the BJP-RSS is on full display today,' Kharge wrote.

Malhotra countered by citing historical incidents of alleged police use of force during protests under previous Congress governments. He referenced the 1966 protest against cow slaughter outside Parliament, the 1988 farmers' protest on Janpath, and agitations linked to the Ram temple movement in 1990 and 1993, alleging that authorities had deployed cane-charges and tear gas on demonstrators during those episodes. 'If arrangements are made to stop aggressive protesters, they call it fear. I want to ask him: they opened fire in the name of law and order!' Malhotra said.

Jantar Mantar Protest and CEC Resignation Demand

Malhotra also questioned the Congress's ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding that party leaders explain why they were seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He accused the Congress of staging protests without offering substantive justification for targeting the constitutional authority.

Background: The JNU Dismissal

Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur constituency in the Lok Sabha, was dismissed by JNU following an inquiry by the university's Internal Complaints Committee, which found the sexual harassment allegations by the 13 complainants substantiated. The dismissal took effect immediately, according to reports. Notably, this is a significant development as it places a sitting MP in the position of having been terminated from a central university over misconduct findings — a situation that the BJP argues warrants a parallel response from his political party.

As of the time of reporting, the Congress had not publicly commented on whether any internal disciplinary action against Akoijam was being considered. The episode sets up a sharper political confrontation in the days ahead, with the BJP expected to keep up pressure in Parliament's ongoing session.