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HomePoliticsNSUI president Fairoz Khan quits over sexual harassment charges

NSUI president Fairoz Khan quits over sexual harassment charges

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Fairoz Khan resigned as the president of NSUI after a party worker from Chhattisgarh had accused him of sexually harassing her, her sister and some other women party members.

New Delhi: Fairoz Khan, the national president of NSUI — Congress’ student wing —resigned late Monday following charges of sexual harassment. Khan’s resignation was accepted by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

A party worker from Chhattisgarh has accused Khan of sexual harassment. The Congress has set up a three-member committee to probe the matter. Khan has denied the charges levelled against him but said that he is resigning from NSUI chief’s post as the charges against him are hurting the party’s image.

The three-member committee is yet to submit its report.


Also read: MJ Akbar won’t resign, calls all #MeToo allegations political vendetta


The woman who had accused Khan of sexual harassment had lodged a complaint in June. She had met Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders of Congress and demanded action against Khan. She had also lodged a complaint at the Parliament Street police station in September saying that she feared for her life. The woman said that Khan had sexually harassed her, her sister and some other women party workers.

Saimoon Farooqui, the party’s national secretary said that Khan has decided to step down on moral grounds.

“The allegations on the party president have not been proven yet, the probe is still going on. The #MeToo movement in India has again raised the baseless allegations on the party president. Mr. Khan feels that these allegations on him are affecting the party badly, and he has voluntarily resigned keeping in mind the party’s interests,” said Farooqui.


Also read: NSUI says new DUSU president’s degree is fake, ABVP rubbishes ‘fraudulent’ claim


RSS-affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) believes that the resignation will not help the image of the party. Raising doubts over the internal committee that the party had formed in June, Bharat Khatana, ABVP’s Delhi state secretary, said, ”NSUI’s internal complaints committee consists of people who are friends with Khan and that is why it is delaying the decision.”

“The victim had to lodge a complaint against Khan in September because of this delay. ABVP wants police action against Fairoz Khan, only that can provide justice to the victim,” Khatana added.

The party president’s resignation has come at a time when the #MeToo movement is raging across India. The Congress was under pressure to take action against Fairoz Khan as the party is seeking action against union minister M.J. Akbar, who has been accused of sexual harassment by several women journalists.

With inputs from PTI

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