JNU Row Snowballs Over Harassment Allegations, Congress MP Hits Back as BJP Petitions President
A major controversy has erupted following sexual harassment allegations against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam leading to his dismissal from Jawaharlal Nehru University. In an interview with India Today, Akoijam denied the charges, including allegations of sex for marks, and challenged the inquiry panel while asserting that statutory bodies had been turned into a khap panchayat. He stated that he would quit Parliament if the charges were proven true. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor defended him, calling the action unjust and politically driven. Meanwhile, 15 BJP women MPs, led by D. Purandeswari, submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu seeking referral to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, Akoijam's suspension pending inquiry, protection and privacy for the complainant students, and swift legal action. The BJP has also questioned the silence of the Congress leadership on the issue.