BJP Mahila Morcha meets NCW chief, demands action against Congress MP Akoijam in harassment case
Synopsis
Eleven JNU students filed sexual harassment complaints against Congress MP Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam — the university's own internal committee found the allegations true and dismissed him. Now the BJP Mahila Morcha has taken the fight to the NCW and is pushing for his suspension from Parliament, putting Congress squarely on the spot over its silence.
Key Takeaways
BJP Mahila Morcha met NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on 14 October 2026 and submitted a memorandum seeking action against Congress MP Prof.
Angomcha Bimol Akoijam .
11 female students filed written sexual harassment complaints against Akoijam, a former JNU professor and Congress MP from Manipur , in May .
A JNU internal committee investigated and found the allegations to be true; Akoijam was subsequently dismissed by the university .
The delegation demanded Akoijam's immediate suspension from Parliament and referral to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee .
NCW Chairperson Rahatkar assured the delegation that the Commission would take cognisance and initiate necessary action.
The BJP has questioned the Congress leadership's silence , noting the party has taken no disciplinary action despite the university's findings.
A high-level Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha delegation on Wednesday, 14 October met National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar in New Delhi and submitted a formal memorandum demanding stringent action against Congress Lok Sabha MP Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam over sexual harassment complaints filed by 11 female students against him. The delegation urged the NCW to take cognisance of the matter and ensure swift, impartial action free of political interference.
Who Led the Delegation and What They Demanded
The Mahila Morcha team was led by BJP National Vice President and Mahila Morcha in-charge Dr Daggubati Purandeswari and Mahila Morcha National President Roop Kumari Chaudhary, accompanied by five Members of Parliament and several Mahila Morcha office-bearers. In its memorandum, the delegation demanded that the matter be referred to the Lok Sabha Speaker through the appropriate constitutional process and placed before the Ethics Committee for an institutional inquiry. It also sought the immediate suspension of Akoijam from Parliament pending the investigation.
Background: University Inquiry and Dismissal
Akoijam, a former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and currently a Congress MP from Manipur, faces allegations from 11 female students who submitted written complaints against him in May. According to the memorandum, an internal committee of the university investigated the matter and found the allegations to be true. The university administration subsequently dismissed Akoijam. Notably, this internal finding has not prompted any disciplinary response from the Congress party, a fact the delegation pointedly raised.
Concerns Over Complainants' Safety and Congress's Silence
Chaudhary expressed concern that the 11 complainants were still enrolled at the same institution and could face pressure or retaliation. 'The 11 young women had shown immense courage by coming forward with written complaints,' she said, adding that their safety, dignity, and academic future must be protected. The delegation called for stringent measures to safeguard the identity, privacy, and security of all complainants, ensuring no intimidation, pressure, or interference with their research and academic careers.
Chaudhary also questioned the Congress leadership's silence on the issue, alleging that despite the university's action, the party had taken no disciplinary steps against Akoijam. She maintained that a person facing such serious allegations had no right to remain in the country's Parliament, and that the Congress should have immediately expelled the MP following the inquiry's findings.
NCW's Response and Next Steps
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar assured the delegation that the Commission would take cognisance of the issue and initiate necessary action. The delegation also urged the NCW to ensure that competent legal authorities are activated and called on Congress leadership to adopt a clear and accountable position on the matter. How the Commission proceeds — and whether the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee takes up the matter — will be closely watched in the days ahead.
Point of View
But that does not diminish the seriousness of the underlying case — an internal university committee has already found the allegations true and dismissed Akoijam. The Congress's continued silence is politically indefensible; a party that regularly invokes women's rights cannot remain mute when one of its own sitting MPs has been dismissed by a university for sexual harassment. The demand to refer the matter to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is the significant legal escalation here — if pursued, it could set a precedent for how Parliament handles sitting members facing institutional misconduct findings. The real accountability test is not in the BJP's press conference but in whether the NCW and the Ethics Committee act independently of political colour.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and what are the allegations against him?
Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam is a Congress Lok Sabha MP from Manipur and a former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Eleven female students filed written sexual harassment complaints against him in May; a JNU internal committee investigated the matter, found the allegations to be true, and the university dismissed him.
Why did the BJP Mahila Morcha approach the NCW?
The BJP Mahila Morcha approached the NCW to seek formal intervention and ensure impartial action against Akoijam, citing the university's findings and concerns about the safety of the 11 complainants who are still enrolled at JNU. The delegation also called for the matter to be referred to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Ethics Committee.
What action has been taken against Akoijam so far?
JNU's internal committee found the sexual harassment allegations to be true and Akoijam was dismissed by the university. However, as of 14 October 2026, the Congress party has not announced any disciplinary action, and Parliament has not initiated any formal inquiry.
What specific demands did the BJP Mahila Morcha make to the NCW?
The delegation demanded that the Lok Sabha Speaker be informed through the appropriate constitutional process, that the matter be referred to the Ethics Committee for an institutional inquiry, and that Akoijam be immediately suspended from Parliament pending investigation. It also sought safeguards for the identity and security of all 11 complainants.
What did NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar say after the meeting?
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar assured the BJP Mahila Morcha delegation that the Commission would take cognisance of the issue and initiate the necessary action. No timeline for the Commission's next steps has been officially announced yet.
