Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj on Sunday, 11 October publicly challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership to take disciplinary action against party MP and dismissed Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who faces sexual harassment allegations from 11 students. Swaraj's remarks, delivered at a press conference in New Delhi, directly targeted Gandhi's well-known 'smash the patriarchy' slogan, questioning whether it amounts to anything beyond political theatre.

What the JNU Inquiry Found

According to Swaraj, JNU constituted an Internal Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act following complaints from 11 students in 2024. After a detailed probe, the university dismissed Akoijam from his professorial position. The complaints, as described by Swaraj citing media reports, include allegations of sexually inappropriate questions during assessments, unwelcome physical contact with female students, and late-night academic evaluations — including a viva examination that reportedly continued until 11:40 pm — conducted at the professor's residence. Allegations of sexually explicit classroom conduct have also reportedly surfaced.

BJP's Attack on Congress Leadership

'Is 'Smash the Patriarchy' only a political rhetoric for you?' Swaraj asked, directing her remarks at Gandhi. 'It seems that this incident is reflecting the hypocrisy of Congress. For them, feminism starts with a hashtag and ends when it comes to accountability.' She argued that silence from the Congress high command — including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sonia Gandhi — amounted to tacit endorsement of the alleged misconduct. 'Being silent over this incident means that they are somewhere supporting the conduct of the alleged sexual predator,' she said.

Congress Yet to Act, BJP Points Out

Swaraj asserted that the Congress party has neither initiated an internal inquiry nor issued a show-cause notice to Akoijam since JNU's dismissal order. She challenged Gandhi directly: 'If 'smash the patriarchy' is not a motivated stance, if it is not merely a political rhetoric for you, then take action against your own MP Bimol Akoijam. I challenge Rahul Gandhi that if you really want to smash the patriarchy, then stand with these 11 students and suspend Akoijam from your party.' Notably, the BJP's press conference was held on the occasion of Navratri's first day, when the goddess Shailputri is worshipped — a framing Swaraj used to underscore what she called the gravity of the issue for women's safety.

Background and Broader Context

Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur constituency in the Lok Sabha, was a professor at JNU before his election. His dismissal by the university following the POSH inquiry has placed Congress in a politically uncomfortable position, given the party's sustained public messaging around gender equality and women's rights. This is not the first time an opposition party MP has faced harassment allegations — but the BJP's decision to escalate the issue at a national press conference signals a concerted effort to hold Congress accountable on its own stated principles. Congress has not publicly responded to the BJP's charges as of the time of this report.

The political pressure on Congress is likely to intensify as the story gains wider traction, with all eyes on whether the party takes any formal disciplinary step against Akoijam.