UKHRUL: Manipur Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, has described the allegations of sexual harassment against him and the university’s Internal Committee (IC) proceedings as “the best thing that could happen to expose this ‘witch hunt’.”
Referring to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Akoijam claimed that he had not received a copy of the inquiry report or the dismissal order.
“I have nothing to hide. If it is true, I need to be informed if the recommendations have gone from the investigation and there is a window period where any respondent or any party can respond if they are not happy with the findings of the committee. I should have the chance to report that. I do not have the report or the dismissal, ” Akoijam was quoted saying to PTI.
He added that the POSH Act, enacted by the Indian Parliament, should apply to everyone, including those at JNU.
“The law should apply to me, whether it be JNU or anybody else who is applying this law,” he said.
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Akoijam also demanded evidence to substantiate the allegations against him.
“All those allegations of sexual remarks, show me that. Either in that report or anywhere. Only then will you know how this witch hunt has been going on,” he said.
According to an order issued by JNU, the university’s Internal Committee conducted an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against Akoijam, a professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems under the School of Social Sciences.
Based on the findings of the inquiry, the committee recommended a major penalty, following which Akoijam was dismissed from service with immediate effect.
