Smriti Irani questions Rahul Gandhi’s silence after JNU sacks professor and Congress MP over sexual harassment allegations

BJP National General Secretary Smriti Z Irani. File. | Photo Credit: PTI The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (October 9, 2026) accused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of remaining “silent” on the dismissal of Congress MP and JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam over sexual harassment allegations.At a press conference, BJP national secretary Smriti Irani sought answers from the Congress leadership for taking no action despite the charges against its MP being “substantiated” in an inquiry into complaints filed by female students.“The former Congress president repeatedly speaks about ‘smashing the patriarchy’. However, since this matter came to light, has he taken any action against his MP? News reports today indicate that an internal complaints committee conducted an inquiry into the matter, which substantiated the allegations levelled against Congress MP Bimol Akoijam,” she said.Ms. Irani questioned why Mr. Gandhi had still not taken any political action against his MP, despite the committee’s findings. She said “the answer was evident from the video of his recent altercation with a female police officer in Delhi”. Published - October 10, 2026 03:50 am IST