The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s women's wing on Monday, 12 October staged demonstrations across Gujarat, demanding strict action against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam over allegations of sexual harassment involving female students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The protests followed JNU's decision to dismiss Akoijam from his professorial post on 9 October and the registration of an FIR against him by Delhi Police on 11 October.

Protests Spread Across Gujarat

Organised by the state BJP Mahila Morcha, the demonstrations were held in all districts and major cities of Gujarat. Women party workers, office-bearers, women legislators, and local leaders participated in sit-ins, raising slogans against the Congress and its senior leadership. Protesters demanded Akoijam's immediate expulsion from the party and called out what they described as the Congress leadership's silence on the allegations.

'Women's safety should not be confined to political speeches and election campaigns,' party leaders said. The BJP accused the Congress of maintaining double standards on women's safety, arguing that its public stance on women's rights was inconsistent with its response to the allegations against one of its own MPs.

What the JNU Inquiry Found

Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur constituency in the Lok Sabha, was serving as a professor at JNU's Centre for the Study of Social Systems when the complaints emerged. JNU dismissed him with immediate effect on 9 October following an internal committee inquiry. According to reports, 11 women students had filed complaints against him.

The committee's findings reportedly pointed to a pattern of inappropriate personal interactions, sexually suggestive conduct, and unwelcome physical contact — findings that the university acted on swiftly. This comes amid broader national conversations about institutional accountability in cases of alleged harassment in academic settings.

FIR Registered, Legal Provisions Invoked

Delhi Police registered an FIR against Akoijam on 11 October at Vasant Kunj North police station, following a complaint by JNU's chief security officer. The complaint forwarded documents related to the university's internal inquiry and sought police action. The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to sexual harassment and acts intended to insult a woman's modesty. The investigation is currently under way.

Akoijam Denies Allegations, Vows Legal Challenge

Akoijam has denied the allegations and described his dismissal as a 'witch hunt.' He has publicly questioned the manner in which the university conducted its inquiry and stated his intention to challenge the decision through legal channels. His response has drawn further political attention, with opposition and ruling party MPs closely watching the developments.

What Comes Next

With the Delhi Police investigation ongoing and Akoijam signalling a legal contest, the case is likely to remain in the spotlight. The BJP's coordinated protests signal a sustained political push for the Congress to take a formal position on the matter. How the Congress responds — and whether it acts internally against Akoijam — will shape the next phase of this controversy.