Chorus for MJ Akbar resignation grows

Congress demands explanation from minister on harassment charges

The Opposition Congress yesterday demanded the resignation of former journalist and Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar who has been accused of sexually harassing woman journalists during his time in the media.

“Union Minister MJ Akbar, accused by women journalists of sex harassment in a spiralling #MeToo movement in India, should resign and be investigated,” Congress said in a statement.

Veteran Congress leader Jaipal Reddy told Gulf News that Akbar should either come out with a satisfactory explanation or immediately resign from the post in the government.

“MJ Akbar has the stature of being a veteran journalist in addition to being junior External Affairs Minister. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj could not comment on her own subordinate today. We demand an inquiry into the allegations,” Reddy said.

Akbar has been accused of sexual harassment by at least four women journalists. He was first called out by senior journalist Priya Ramani, who had last year written about his “inappropriate behaviour” without taking his name.

On Tuesday, she confirmed that the allegation was against Akbar. “MJ Akbar is an expert on obscene phone calls, texts, inappropriate compliments and not taking no for an answer,” Ramani had written in her article for Vogue magazine.

Akbar, who has been the editor of prominent newspapers such as The Telegraph, The Sunday Guardian and Asian Age, is a member of Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He has not yet reacted to the controversy. Expressing concern over the issue, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said silence is not an option for the government. “We would like to hear from both the minister in question and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue,” Tiwari told media.