Bimol Akoijam, the Congress MP from Inner Manipur, was expelled from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) due to sexual harassment charges. Akoijam claims the BJP has falsely accused him and alleges racial discrimination in the process.
Claims of Racial Bias and False Charges
Akoijam told ThePrint that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH law), was misused against him. He believes that if politicians from Uttar Pradesh or Bihar had been involved, the allegations would have been handled with more care. He said, “They would think a 1,000 times if I were an MP from Bihar or UP before concocting these charges. I am not playing the race card but it is racist.”
The MP, who formerly taught at JNU’s School of Social Sciences, said the expulsion did not come as a surprise due to a prolonged witch hunt. Despite this, he adhered to the POSH law’s confidentiality requirements and refrained from commenting on the matter during the inquiry.
Confidentiality Breaches and Media Trials
Akoijam was shocked that the Internal Committee (IC) report findings, confidential under the POSH law, were leaked to the media before being shared with him. He noted he only received an email late Friday night after giving a press statement. He said, “As per the POSH, the IC report is confidential. Section 16 of the Act talks about confidentiality.” However, the JNU vice chancellor (VC) disclosed his name publicly, which Akoijam views as a breach of protocol.
The MP said the VC should have been more cautious, especially since she admitted there were cases in the IC but could not legally comment further. According to Akoijam, the IC acknowledged the confidentiality breach and promised to investigate it.
He condemned the trial by media, stating that the charges reported, such as sex-for-marks allegations, were not present in the IC findings and were entirely fabricated.
Political Motives Behind the Action
Akoijam described the timing and leaks of the IC report as politically motivated, coinciding with the run-up to the Assembly elections. He pointed out that Manipur’s representation in the Lok Sabha improved with his and his colleague Alfred Arthur’s victories, which may have unsettled the BJP.
“They thought, how do you silence them? So one of their best ways is to character assassinate,” he said. He believes the BJP hopes to damage his reputation so he can be stopped from campaigning effectively in Manipur.
The MP also recalled previous false accusations against him during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, highlighting malicious political tactics.
Alleged Violations of POSH Law by JNU VC
Akoijam said the JNU VC violated multiple POSH law provisions, including the failure to respect the appeal period of 30 days after the IC report submission and the immediate dismissal action taken on the same day as submission.
He demanded accountability from the VC and emphasized adherence to principles of natural justice, noting that he provided his deposition to the IC on 16 July and questioned the delay in proceedings.
Concerns Over Institutional Integrity
According to Akoijam, the BJP has weakened many institutions including the Constitution, Election Commission, JNU, and even the POSH law framework. He expressed worry about damage to institutional trust, stressing that the harassment laws are meant for important purposes and should not be abused.
“I told them that I can defend myself but I am worried about this institution—the law and institution,” Akoijam said.
