‘No one can intimidate me through this ‘low-level politics’ or force me to back down, but I will fight till I die for my land and my people’.
Biswadeep Gupta
Addressing a press conference following his sudden termination from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Lok Sabha MP and professor Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam strongly rejected the administration’s actions, describing the dismissal as a politically motivated “witch hunt” aimed at conducting a media trial and silencing his voice on the Manipur crisis in Parliament.
In a late-night press conference here in Imphal, Member of Parliament Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam strongly rejected recent dismissal actions by JNU, labelling them as a politically motivated “witch hunt”, procedural violations & broken rules.
In the briefing, Dr. Akoijam and Congress representatives detailed significant procedural lapses and violations of statutory due process committed by the university administration. Dr. Akoijam stated that the university violated basic principles of natural justice by denying him the standard right to respond to the Internal Committee’s (IC) final inquiry report. The inquiry concluded only a day prior, and the termination order was issued almost immediately without giving him the requisite opportunity or the mandatory thirty-day window to inspect the final findings and present a written defence.
Under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act, 2013 and the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, governing university faculty, both parties are legally entitled to receive copies of the inquiry report.
The charged officer must be given an opportunity to submit formal representations against the findings before the Disciplinary Authority decides on major penalties (such as dismissal). Dr. Akoijam stressed that this due process was bypassed in haste to execute a predetermined political directive.
Emphasising that the issue was leaked to trigger a public media trial and damage his reputation, Dr. Akoijam has already initiated legal proceedings—including a ₹45-crore civil defamation suit against select media entities.
Dr. Bimol, sworn in the name of his parents, said that these are lies and a witch hunt. He echoed that as a law-abiding citizen, he will follow the law, ‘unlike them’. He will follow the judicial course of action to get justice not only for himself but for his people, as it is an insult!
He said, ‘No one can intimidate me through this ‘low-level politics’ or force me to back down, but I will fight till I die for my land and my people’.
Dr. Akoijam reiterated that neither the media trials nor institutional pressure would deter him from his parliamentary responsibilities, asserting that he will continue to demand accountability and raise the Manipur crisis in the Lok Sabha.
During the press conference, Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam directed a stern warning at the BJP, RSS, and the central government, cautioning them against weaponising educational institutions and using backdoor tactics to undermine political dissent.
“Let Them Come Without Any Mask”:
Calling out what he termed political cowardice, Dr. Akoijam challenged the ruling establishment to stop hiding behind administrative machinery, institutional committees, and selective media leaks. He remarked: “Thank God they have come out with this kind of thing. Now, let them come out without any mask. I will wait and see how things unfold.” He challenged his political opponents to confront him directly in the political and parliamentary arena instead of orchestrating proxy character assassinations.
Futile Attempt to Silence the Manipur Crisis:
He warned the BJP that their strategy to muzzle him would completely backfire. Stressing that the controversy was engineered to neutralise his vocal stance on the ongoing ethnic violence and governance failures in Manipur, Dr. Akoijam asserted that no amount of institutional coercion, targeted smear campaigns, or state-backed intimidation would silence him from demanding accountability inside Parliament.
Counter-Consequences for Orchestrated Media Trials:
Dr. Akoijam cautioned that those manufacturing and spreading defamatory leaks would face severe legal repercussions. He signalled that neither he nor his supporters would be intimidated by trial-by-media setups, warning that every attempt to bypass constitutional safeguards and damage his public standing would be fought tooth and nail in the courts and before the public.
