New Delhi, August 2: Congress MP and Lok Sabha Deputy Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday sharply criticised the BJP’s IT cell, describing it as a “pit of toxic masculinity” and accusing individuals associated with the network of targeting women with abusive and threatening content online.
Gogoi made the remarks in a social media post while highlighting what he described as a growing contrast between the atmosphere at physical protest sites and the treatment of women in digital spaces. He said women participating in protests, including demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, felt relatively safe on the ground but were facing hostility and harassment online.
According to Gogoi, women have been subjected to rape threats, derogatory comments, personal attacks and doxxing—the unauthorised exposure of private or identifying information—by people he alleged were supporters of the ruling BJP and linked to its IT ecosystem.
The Congress leader called for stronger accountability for online harassment and urged that those responsible should be identified and publicly exposed. He argued that political differences should not become a justification for threats or abusive behaviour directed at women.
Gogoi’s comments come amid heightened political activity and sharp exchanges between ruling-party supporters and opposition leaders across social media platforms. Online political discourse in India has increasingly become a battleground, with rival groups frequently accusing each other of trolling, abuse and coordinated harassment.
The BJP has previously rejected allegations that its IT ecosystem is responsible for abusive activity by individual social-media users, while political parties across the spectrum have faced criticism over the conduct of their online supporters. Allegations made by Gogoi regarding specific individuals or groups would therefore require independent verification.
The latest remrks also come against the backdrop of recent student protests at Jantar Mantar, which have generated wider political debate over protest rights, police action and the treatment of demonstrators. Gogoi's intervention links the ongoing political confrontation to concerns about women's safety and the nature of online political communication. The controversy is likely to fuel another round of political exchanges on social media, with the Congress seeking greater scrutiny of online harassment and the BJP expected to respond to the allegations.
