Congress Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, has officially responded to his recent dismissal from his role as a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Speaking to reporters at his residence in Imphal on Friday, Akoijam characterized the university's move as a "witch hunt," asserting that he had not yet received the formal dismissal order or the findings of the internal inquiry committee.
The university had conducted an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Akoijam by female students, which ultimately resulted in a recommendation for his removal. Akoijam challenged the institution’s handling of the process, alleging that JNU violated confidentiality protocols by disclosing his identity to the media before providing him with the official inquiry report. He maintained that he has "nothing to hide" and indicated his intention to contest the disciplinary action through appropriate legal channels, citing that the parties involved are typically entitled to a 30-day window to appeal such findings.
The development has triggered significant political friction. Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a representative of the Manipur government, issued a call for the MP to resign from the Lok Sabha, describing the dismissal as "deeply disturbing" and claiming that the situation had negatively impacted the image of the state. Meanwhile, the incident has drawn national attention, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staging protests in Jammu demanding that Rahul Gandhi step down as the Leader of Opposition. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also criticized the Congress leadership for its association with the MP, claiming that the party would face political repercussions for supporting an individual embroiled in such serious allegations.
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