BJP Mahila Morcha workers on Monday, 12 October 2026, staged a demonstration outside the Congress headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg in New Delhi, demanding action over sexual harassment allegations against Congress MP and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam. The protest came hours after Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the lawmaker, escalating what has become one of the more charged political controversies of the week.

Protest Outside Congress Headquarters

Demonstrators raised slogans calling for justice for the students who have levelled allegations against Akoijam. One of the slogans chanted was, 'JNU ki 11 betiyan nyay ki hakdaar betiyan' (JNU's 11 daughters deserve justice). Separate protests were simultaneously staged in Bengaluru, reflecting a coordinated national mobilisation by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s women's wing. Protesters specifically demanded that the Congress leadership publicly respond to the allegations and take action against its own member of parliament.

FIR Registered Against Akoijam

According to officials, Delhi Police registered the FIR at the Vasant Kunj North police station on Sunday, 11 October, following a complaint lodged by JNU's Chief Security Officer. The case was registered under Sections 75, 75(1)(i), 75(1)(iv) and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Akoijam has been named in the FIR, and police are said to be actively investigating the matter.

According to media reports, at least 11 female students filed sexual harassment complaints against Akoijam in May. The complaints alleged that he invited students to his campus residence under the pretext of meetings or gatherings and attempted to sexually harass them. Some students also alleged he made obscene and inappropriate remarks during classroom sessions. The allegations were reportedly examined during a formal inquiry that preceded the university's decision to dismiss him from his position.

BJP Targets Congress Over 'Smash the Patriarchy' Rhetoric

Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj directly attacked the Congress leadership. 'Today, while we are worshipping Maa Shailputri, I am bringing a very serious issue concerning the daughters of this country before you. JNU has dismissed Congress MP Bimol Akoijam from his job over allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2024, not one or two, but 11 students filed sexual harassment complaints against him. JNU constituted an Internal Committee under the POSH Act, which, after a detailed probe, immediately dismissed Akoijam,' Swaraj said.

Swaraj went on to criticise Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sonia Gandhi for their silence. 'Is 'Smash the Patriarchy' only political rhetoric for you? It seems that this incident reflects the hypocrisy of the Congress. For them, feminism starts with a hashtag and ends when it comes to accountability,' she said. She also questioned whether women's respect was 'just restricted to being a slogan and not a policy of the Congress party.'

Political Backdrop and What Comes Next

The BJP had already raised the issue on Sunday, questioning Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's earlier 'Smash the Patriarchy' remark, asking whether it amounted to political posturing given the party's alleged inaction. This is the second consecutive day the BJP has pressed the Congress publicly on the matter, suggesting the party intends to sustain pressure ahead of any legislative session. Congress had not issued a formal public statement on the allegations as of the time of the protest. The investigation by Delhi Police is ongoing, and the case is expected to draw further political and judicial scrutiny in the days ahead.