We feel vindicated, say women journos after MJ Akbar quits

new delhi — Women journalists who levelled allegations of sexual harassment and molestation against former editor MJ Akbar on Wednesday expressed their happiness over his stepping down as the Minister of State for External Affairs.

Journalist Priya Ramani, who was the first to go public with her accusation against the former editor and is facing a defamation suit filed by Akbar, said she was “vindicated”.

“As women, we feel vindicated by MJ Akbar’s resignation. I look forward to the day when I will also get justice in court,” Ramani tweeted.

“Eventually the truth prevails,” Ghazala Wahab, another journalist who accused Akbar of making physical advances in office, told CNN NEWS 18. “If you are steadfast you will see what happens now.”

Over a dozen journalists have accused Akbar of sexual harassment and molestation. He filed a defamation suit against Ramani alleging that “scandalous allegations” have been made to bring down his image in society. Journalist Suparna Sharma who had accused Akbar of having “plucked my bra strap”, said the fight was not over with his resignation.

“Akbar should have resigned immediately after returning to India instead of issuing a statement,” said Sharma referring to Akbar’s Sunday statement where he had rubbished all the allegations and questioned the motive behind them.

“When he issued the statement, it seemed it was government versus Priya Ramani. Now that he has resigned, it is Akbar vs Priya Ramani,” she said insisting the former minister should withdraw the defamation case against Ramani.

“We don’t know who is backing and supporting him, but I am happy and glad that he has stepped down. The longer he fights this battle against Ramani, more women will come out,” she said asserting the fight against sexual harassment will continue.

“On #MahaAshtami Devi Durga slays the demon? #MJAkbar gone .... ” tweeted journalist Saba Naqvi who had called Akbar a “predator”.

Journalist Harinder Baweja, who too had accused Akbar, wondered if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would now “break their silence”. “Akbar should have done it (resigned) much earlier. Staying on also reeked of a sense of entitlement. As a next step, he should withdraw the defamation suit unless MJ Akbar wants to continue defaming himself,” Baweja said on twitter.

Akbar was overseas when the allegations broke and upon his return vowed to fight it out. But since then, women groups and political parties have demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi act against him.

Modi’s Hindu nationalist government has said very little about the accusations against one of its members or about the upsurge in #MeToo allegations.

Sandeep Shastri, a political analyst at Jain University in the city of Bengaluru, said Akbar’s defamation lawsuit and then subsequent his resignation could indicate damage

limitation by the government.

“You are facing an election in several states and this could have been highly embarrassing for the government. It would have been tough for the government to justify retaining him,” said Shastri. “I won’t be surprised if he was asked to resign”.

The #MeToo movement, which began in the United States more than a year ago in response to accusations of sexual harassment and abuse by powerful men in the entertainment industry, gained traction in India in late September after actress Tanushree Dutta said actor Nana Patekar behaved inappropriately on the sets of a film they were shooting in 2008. Patekar has denied any wrongdoing. Since then, more than a dozen men in the media, entertainment, political and art worlds have been accused of offences, ranging from sexual harassment to rape.

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. I have, therefore, tendered my resignation MJ Akbar

As women, we feel vindicated by MJ Akbar’s resignation. I look forward to the day when I will also get justice in court Priya Ramani, journalist

On #MahaAshtami Devi Durga slays the demon? #MJAkbar gone Saba Naqvi, a journalist

I wonder if PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will now break their silence Harinder Baweja, journalist

Eventually the truth prevails...If you are steadfast you will see what happens now Ghazala Wahab, journalist

We don’t know who is backing and supporting him (Akbar), but I am happy and glad that he has stepped down. The longer he fights this battle against Ramani, more women will come out Suparna Sharma, journalist

Akbar’s defamation lawsuit and then subsequent his resignation could indicate damage limitation by the government. I won’t be surprised if he was asked to resign Sandeep Shastri, political analyst