Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj launched a direct attack on the senior leadership of the Congress party over issues concerning women's dignity and security. Swaraj directed searching questions at Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, arguing that the party maintains a stark dichotomy between its public pronouncements on women's empowerment and its internal handling of serious accusations against its own leaders and office bearers.
Objections Raised Over Bimol Akoijam Heading Election Panels
Swaraj initiated her critique by highlighting the case of Bimol Akoijam, the Congress Member of Parliament from Manipur. She recalled that during his tenure at Jawaharlal Nehru University, 11 female students had brought forth grave allegations of sexual harassment against him. A formal disciplinary proceeding had ensued, in which the inquiry panel determined that he was culpable of the charges. Following those findings, he was removed from his service, prompting him to seek legal redress before the High Court.
The BJP parliamentarian questioned the rationale behind rewarding an individual with such past findings with central campaign responsibilities. Congress has designated Bimol Akoijam as the co-chairman of the election committee, campaign committee, and manifesto committee for the Manipur legislative assembly elections. Swaraj argued that an architect of a manifesto actively scripts the strategic roadmap and core values of a political organization, suggesting that entrusting this responsibility to a controversial figure reflects poorly on the direction of the party itself.
The Allegations Surrounding Harak Singh Rawat and DNA Testing
Shifting focus to Uttarakhand, Swaraj took aim at the appointment of veteran politician Harak Singh Rawat to a prominent election post. She stated that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had appointed Rawat as the chairman of the state election committee despite ongoing controversy. According to Swaraj, a woman hailing from Assam had leveled substantial allegations against Rawat and formally sought a DNA test to substantiate her claims, with the matter being assigned to a female police officer for scrutiny.
Swaraj underlined that the most telling aspect of these controversies is the persistent silence maintained by Rahul Gandhi and the central party leadership. She contended that by failing to demand accountability or initiate transparent internal reviews, the party conveys that influential political figures remain shielded from scrutiny regardless of the nature of the allegations against them.
Scrutiny of Priyanka Gandhi's Slogan and Internal Standards
Swaraj explicitly invoked the prominent campaign slogan 'Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon' popularized by Priyanka Gandhi during previous state elections. She asked whether that slogan represents a genuine ethical commitment to standing alongside women or merely serves as convenient rhetoric during electoral campaigns. Swaraj asked whether Priyanka Gandhi is prepared to champion the cause of women's dignity when the accused belong to the upper echelons of her own organization.
She asserted that women voters across the country are closely observing these contradictions. Swaraj maintained that in forthcoming electoral contests, female citizens will demand answers from the Congress party and hold its leadership accountable for decisions that appear to compromise on the security and dignity of women.
Accusations Involving an NSUI Functionary
Concluding her remarks, Swaraj raised a third matter involving an office bearer of the National Students' Union of India, the student wing of the Congress party. She alleged that an NSUI functionary attempted to exert undue influence on young women by offering inducements such as concert tickets and gifts. Furthermore, Swaraj stated that attempts were made to take these young women to Ahmedabad under questionable circumstances.
Given that the NSUI operates as a direct student affiliate of the Congress, Swaraj argued that the party hierarchy cannot distance itself from the conduct of its youth leadership. She asserted that the silence of Rahul Gandhi and other key figures on these matters demonstrates that moral posturing has taken precedence over meaningful action within the organization.
