MJ Akbar resigns, will fight battle ‘personally’
The BJP, which initially maintained a stoic silence on the issue, has now distanced itself from Akbar, who has termed all allegations as malicious
Minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar resigned on Wednesday, buffeted by a storm of allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to the years he was a journalist and newspaper editor in the 1980s and the 1990s, saying he would challenge the accusations in court in his personal capacity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted the resignation, which was also approved by President Ram Nath Kovind’s office late in the evening.
At least a dozen women journalists have accused Akbar, 67, a former editor of The Telegraph, Deccan Chronicle and The Asian Age newspapers, of inappropriate behaviour, joining the global #MeToo campaign. He has responded by suing journalist Priya Ramani, who sparked off the barrage of allegations he has denied, for criminal defamation in a Delhi court.
The case comes up for hearing on Thursday. “Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levelled against me, also in a personal capacity,” Akbar said in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon. “I have, therefore, tendered my resignation from the office of minister of state for external affairs. I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and to the external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for the opportunity they gave me to serve my country.”
Ramani, who has received pledges of support from other journalists, welcomed Akbar’s exit from the government. “As women we feel vindicated by MJ Akbar’s resignation. I look forward to the day when I will also get justice in court #MeToo,” she wrote on Twitter. On Wednesday, 17 former women colleagues of Akbar wrote an open letter supporting Ramani and asking the Delhi court to include their testimonies in the defamation case filed by the minister.