Imphal, Oct 16 BJP workers on Friday staged a protest outside the Congress Bhavan in Manipur’s capital, demanding the resignation of Congress MP and sacked JNU professor Bimol Akoijam following his dismissal from the university over sexual harassment allegations.
The protesters held placards reading “Punish the guilty”, “We demand truth” and “We demand justice”, and raised slogans demanding Akoijam’s resignation and protection of the state’s pride.
Police personnel prevented the protesters from entering the Congress Bhavan premises.
“Akoijam is representing not only the Congress but the entire people of the state. People are embarrassed by his alleged misconduct towards female students, and he must resign. He should go to court and let it decide whether he is guilty or innocent,” a protester said.
Reacting to the protest, senior Congress spokesperson Hareshwar Goshwami said, “It is funny that the BJP is demanding justice when they are in power. It is a plot to divert attention from the killings and crisis in the state.”
Akoijam appeared before investigators at Delhi’s Vasant Kunj North Police Station on Thursday night in connection with a sexual harassment case.
Police had served him a notice on Wednesday, asking him to join the investigation.
The academic was booked on October 11 on a complaint of JNU’s chief security officer.
Akoijam has been booked under sections 75, 75(1)(i), 75(1)(iv) and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with sexual harassment and acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman, among other offences.
Akoijam, a professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems under JNU’s School of Social Sciences, was dismissed on October 9 following an inquiry into sexual harassment allegations against him.
He has denied the charges.
According to reports, at least 11 female students filed complaints against him in May, alleging that he invited students to his campus residence on the pretext of meetings or gatherings and would try to harass them.
A few alleged that he also made obscene and inappropriate remarks in class.
The Congress MP from Inner Manipur termed the action a “witch hunt” and claimed that he was not allowed to respond to the inquiry committee’s findings.
(PTI News)
