Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam Challenges JNU Dismissal, Alleging ‘Witch Hunt’
GUWAHATI: The political landscape in Manipur and New Delhi has been thrown into turmoil following the dismissal of Inner Manipur Member of Parliament, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, from his position as a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The university’s decision follows findings from an internal committee that investigated allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by female students.
Addressing a press conference at his residence in Imphal on Friday, Akoijam vehemently denied the allegations and characterized his termination as a targeted “witch hunt.” The MP expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in the university’s administrative process, stating that he has yet to receive the official dismissal order or the findings of the internal committee.
“I have nothing to hide. This is a orchestrated effort to malign my reputation,” Akoijam stated. He further argued that JNU violated established protocols by failing to provide him with the recommendations of the inquiry committee and by breaching the confidentiality mandated in sexual harassment cases. He noted that he first learned of his termination through media reports, emphasizing that the university failed to grant him the standard 30-day window typically allowed for parties to appeal such findings. Akoijam has vowed to challenge the university’s decision through appropriate legal channels.
Political Backlash Intensifies
The fallout from the dismissal has triggered a sharp political confrontation in Manipur and across the country. Yumnam Khemchand Singh, the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, has led the charge against the Congress leader, demanding his immediate resignation from the Lok Sabha. In a statement posted to social media, Khemchand described the situation as “deeply disturbing and shameful,” asserting that the nature of the allegations has tarnished the image of the state. “Akoijam has lost the moral authority to continue as a public representative and should resign, respecting the sentiment of the people,” Khemchand wrote.
The controversy has also been seized upon by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a tool to target the Congress party’s national leadership. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh directed his criticism toward Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. He argued that the Congress party would be held accountable by the public for supporting an individual embroiled in serious sexual misconduct allegations for the sake of political expediency.
Nationwide Protests
The impact of the incident reached beyond Manipur, with the BJP launching organized protests in other regions. In Jammu, party activists took to the streets to demand that Rahul Gandhi step down from his post as the Leader of the Opposition, accusing him of maintaining silence and failing to act against a party member facing such grave accusations.
As the legal battle looms, the case has sparked a heated debate regarding institutional integrity, the sanctity of sexual harassment inquiry processes in academic settings, and the broader implications for political accountability in India. With both sides digging in their heels, the incident is expected to remain a central flashpoint in the ongoing friction between the ruling party and the opposition.
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