On Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised questions with the Congress, specifically Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, about the lack of action against Congress MP Bimol Akoijam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University professor accused of sexual harassment. The BJP asked whether the party’s “smash the patriarchy” slogan is merely political rhetoric.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, speaking at a press conference, said that JNU had dismissed Akoijam after an internal committee, established under the POSH Act, found evidence of misconduct. She cited eleven student complaints alleging that Akoijam asked sexually inappropriate questions during assessments, engaged in unwanted physical contact, and invited students to his residence for late‑night academic sessions that reportedly continued until 11:40 p.m. Swaraj described the allegations as deeply disturbing and said they raised serious questions about the professor’s conduct.
Swaraj criticized Rahul Gandhi’s earlier “smash the patriarchy” remark, arguing that the incident reveals Congress hypocrisy. She said that the party’s leaders – Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi – had remained silent, implying that the high command might be supporting the alleged predator. She questioned whether the Congress treats women’s respect as a slogan rather than a policy.
The BJP MP demanded that Congress set up an inquiry, issue a show‑cause notice to Akoijam, and take disciplinary action. She challenged Rahul Gandhi to act against his own MP if he truly wants to “smash the patriarchy,” urging the party to suspend Akoijam and stand with the eleven students.
