Inner Manipur MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has asserted that the sexual harassment allegations against him levelled by Jawaharlal Nehru University’s women students are linked to his criticism of the handling of the ethnic conflict in the state.
The MP, who worked as a professor at the prestigious university in Delhi, was sacked last week after at least eleven women accused him of sexual harassment, and an internal committee found him guilty on nine counts.
A case has been filed against him in Delhi. The BJP has demanded his removal from the Congress. “This is my constituency. I am not an MP from Delhi. Responding to the BJP’s allegation that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was protecting him, Akoijam dismissed the charge, accusing the ruling party of dragging Gandhi into the controversy to divert attention from broader political issues. The MP also criticised what he described as the selective application of accountability by the BJP, challenging the party to address allegations involving its own leaders instead of targeting political opponents. Akoijam warned that attempts to silence him could deepen public anger in Manipur, cautioning that the consequences might extend beyond party politics.
He said he had submitted a written response on May 31 and appeared before the ICC in July. He further claimed that witnesses on his behalf had deposed before the committee on August 14.
I am an MP from Manipur,” he said. “She is lying, one after another,” he alleged, accusing the university administration of using the proceedings as a pretext to harass him and suppress his political voice. “They chose a soft target, an MP from Manipur,” he said, maintaining that attempts to silence him would not succeed.
