New Delhi, November 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused the Congress of adopting double standards on women’s safety, alleging that its senior leadership had remained silent over sexual assault allegations against Jharkhand MLA Bhushan Bara involving a 14-year-old tribal girl.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party MP Bansuri Swaraj questioned the silence of Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sonia Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, over the allegations.
Swaraj said the allegations were particularly serious as they involved a minor from a tribal community and came ahead of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
She alleged that the MLA had lured the girl with promises of education and a better life, made her perform household chores and subjected her to physical abuse and sexual exploitation. Swaraj said an FIR had been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The BJP MP challenged the Congress leadership to explain whether it had questioned the MLA or taken any action against him. She accused the party of speaking about women’s empowerment in public while failing to respond when allegations involved its own leaders.
Swaraj also cited allegations against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, claiming that 11 Jawaharlal Nehru University students had accused him of sexual harassment. She questioned the party’s decision to appoint him co-chair of its Election Committee, Campaign Committee and Manifesto Committee ahead of the Manipur Assembly elections.
She further raised allegations involving Congress leader Harak Singh, who has been appointed chairman of the party’s Uttarakhand Election Committee. Referring to a complaint by a woman from Assam, Swaraj said the complainant had sought a DNA test and that the matter had been assigned to a woman police officer for investigation.
The BJP leader also referred to a controversy involving a former office-bearer of the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at Delhi University. She alleged that he had attempted to lure young women with concert tickets, gifts and other inducements.
Targeting Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s slogan, “Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon”, Swaraj asked whether the Congress was equally committed to defending women’s dignity when allegations were levelled against people within its own ranks.
She contrasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to women’s empowerment with what she described as the Congress leadership’s silence, warning that women voters would seek accountability in the coming elections.
The Congress leadership’s alleged silence and the cases cited by Swaraj formed the basis of the BJP’s attack. The allegations against the individuals mentioned remain allegations and should not be treated as established findings.
FOLLOW NOW
