New Delhi: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday sharpened his attack on the BJP’s online ecosystem, branding the party’s IT cell a “pit of toxic masculinity” and alleging that women were facing rape threats, crude taunts and doxxing from supporters of the ruling party.
In a post on X, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the real danger for young women was not at protest venues such as Jantar Mantar, but in the digital space where abuse and intimidation had become routine. He argued that online hostility toward women had worsened to the point where even public outrage was being weaponised against them.
“Where the girls are feeling unsafe is in the digital space. Boys and men supporting the ruling party are indulging in rape threats, prostitution jibes and doxxing. This is the IT cell, the pit of toxic masculinity,” Gogoi stated.
‘Women Safer At Protest Sites Than Online’
Gogoi also contrasted the conduct of young men at the protest site with the behaviour of online trolls, saying the atmosphere at Jantar Mantar reflected solidarity rather than harassment. According to him, the crowd there had helped create a sense of safety for women participants, as reported by The News Mill.
“The beauty of Jantar Mantar was that many girls and young women said that they felt safe in the crowd. Many said they were supported and even protected to an extent by the boys and young men. The young men at Jantar Mantar showed empathy, strength and courage. This is an example of positive masculinity.”
Calls For Accountability
He went on to demand accountability for the abuse being directed at women online, saying those behind such attacks should not remain anonymous. “The perpetrators of this filth should be identified, named and shamed.”
The comments came against the backdrop of a viral incident involving a girl from Noida who was seen using abusive language during the Jantar Mantar protest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later posted a video on Instagram urging people to stay away from abusive language and saying he “forgives” those who used it.
But after the girl’s identity was revealed online, she was subjected to a wave of harassment. Gogoi said the episode showed how digital vigilantism can quickly slide into doxxing and gendered abuse, even when the original matter arose out of a protest.
Noida Police registered an FIR against a woman for allegedly making objectionable comments against the Prime Minister during the CJP’s protest over the NEET paper leak. Following the protests, Dharmendra Pradhan quit as Union Education Minister, and Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, to curb exam paper leaks more firmly.
