BJYM organised protest outside the Congress office in Imphal over allegations involving MP Bimol Akoijam, while MPCC chief Keisham Meghachandra condemned the arrest of Youth Congress president W. Anand Singh.
Imphal, Oct. 16: The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) staged a protest outside the Congress office in Imphal over the sexual harassment allegations involving Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, while Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Keisham Meghachandra Singh condemned the arrest of state Youth Congress president W. Anand Singh.
The protest and the subsequent political reactions triggered a dispute between the BJP and Congress over the handling of the allegations, the right to peaceful protest and the police’s response to demonstrations by members of the two parties.
BJYM members began their march from Thambal Shanglen and proceeded towards the Congress office, carrying placards bearing messages such as “We demand peace”, “We demand truth”, “Punish the guilty” and “Save the Dignity of Manipur”.
Police personnel were deployed to maintain order. When some BJYM protesters attempted to enter the Congress office, the police stopped them, leading to a brief clash.
BJYM vice-president Thokchom Chandramani said it remained to be seen whether MP Bimol Akoijam was guilty of the allegations against him. He criticised the MP’s response to the controversy and said he should seek to establish his innocence. Chandramani also described the alleged inaction over the matter as shameful.
Responding to the protest, MPCC vice-president Hareshwar Goshwami condemned the BJYM members for gathering outside Congress Bhawan and shouting “We want justice”. He said the incident made it appear as though the Congress had become the ruling party.
Goshwami maintained that Bimol Akoijam had visited the police station and fully cooperated with the authorities. He added that if the MP were found guilty, he should face punishment in accordance with the law.
Criticising the BJP’s actions, Goshwami said they appeared to be “practising in advance, knowing they will end up in the opposition”. He also argued that the campaign had been rushed without adequate consideration of legal procedures and could contribute to divisions among the public.
In a post on X, MPCC president Keisham Meghachandra Singh strongly condemned the arrest of W. Anand Singh, president of the Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee.
Meghachandra described peaceful protest as a democratic right and an essential part of a functioning democracy. He called on the police to act impartially and ensure that the law was applied equally, without political bias or discrimination.
Questioning the police action, he asked why BJP protesters who allegedly attempted to storm the Congress office had not been arrested while Congress leaders were being taken into custody for participating in protests.
“Is there one law for the BJP and another for the Congress?” he asked, urging the police to explain what he described as an apparent disparity in the application of the law.
The MPCC president said law enforcement agencies must remain independent, impartial and accountable. He warned that selective action could create a perception that political affiliation determines who faces police action.
Meghachandra said the Congress would continue to defend democratic rights and raise its voice against injustice through peaceful and constitutional means. He added that democracy could not survive if peaceful protest was treated as a crime and the law was applied selectively.
The competing statements reflect the political dispute surrounding the allegations against Bimol Akoijam and the protests that followed. The allegations against the MP remain distinct from the question of whether any individual is guilty, which must be determined through due process.
