Lies don’t have legs, but contain poison: Indian minister
Minister calls charges of sexual misconduct baseless, malicious and ‘spiced up by innuendo’ and stresses that he will press legal action against accusers
NEW DELHI: Giving no indication of resigning from the government, Union Minister MJ Akbar, who is facing charges of sexual harassment and wrongdoing by around a dozen women journalists, on Sunday called the allegations “false, wild and baseless” and vowed to take legal action against the accusers.
“Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing,” according to NDTV.
Akbar called the allegations of sexual misconduct raised against him baseless and malicious and “spiced up by innuendo.”
“There’s no proof against me,” he asserted, stressing that he will press legal action against those who have brought up the charges.
It was obvious from Akbar’s statement that he was determined to fight the case politically too, and take the stand of a man wrongly victimised.
And he has the BJP’S support.
“Why are these allegations timed with the 2019 elections?” he asked.
The statement came as the number of journalists raising such allegations against the former editor as part of the #Me Too drive rose to 14 on Sunday. “These are cooked up allegations,” the 67-yearold insisted.
NEW DELHI: Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar will not resign. In a statement issued after his return from an overseas trip on Sunday, Akbar called the allegations of sexual misconduct raised against him baseless and malicious and “spiced up by innuendo.” “There’s no proof against me,” he asserted, stressing that he will press legal action against those who have brought up the charges.
It was obvious from Akbar’s statement that he was determined to ight the case politically too, and take the stand of a man wrongly victimised. And he has the BJP’S support. “Why are these allegations timed with the 2019 elections?” he asked.
The statement came as the number of journalists raising such allegations against the former editor as part of the #Me Too drive rose to 14 on Sunday. “These are cooked up allegations,” the 67-year-old insisted.
“These are aimed at damaging my reputation.” Reports had emerged after Akbar’s return on Sunday that he had sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by e-mail.
Resignations by e-mail never happens in India, but the speculation was aired since he was staying put at his residence after arrival.
Akbar’s statement came after he held a meeting with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. Swaraj had maintained silence about the controversy, but Textiles Minister Smriti Irani had suggested that “the gentleman better issue a statement.”
Akbar on Sunday positioned himself for a political ight over the issue. A legal battle was also a possibility.
“Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge. These false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill... This is deeply distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action,” Akbar said.
The accusers are mainly women who have worked under Akbar as he was editor of the Telegraph and later The Asian Age. Priya Ramani launched the attack, and was followed by Prerna Singh Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Shutapa Paul, Anju Bharti, Suparna Sharma, Shuma Raha, Malini Bhupta, Kanika Gahlout, Kadambari M. Wade, Majlie de Puy Kamp and Ruth David.
Akbar said the only ofice where he worked with Ghazala Wahab was that of The Asian Age. “A part of the editorial team then worked out of a small hall. At the time concerned, I had a very tiny cubicle, patched together by plywood and glass. Others had tables and chairs two feet away.
“It is utterly bizarre to believe that anything could have happened in that tiny space, and, moreover, that no one else in the vicinity would come to know, in the midst of a working day. These allegations are false, motivated and baseless,” he said.
Priya Ramani and Wahab continued to work with him despite the alleged incidents, Akbar said. “It clearly establishes they had no apprehension and discomfort. Reason why they remained silent for decades is very apparent, as Ms Ramani has herself stated, I never did anything.”
He said: “Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations.”
The Congress, meanwhile, sharpened its attack on Akbar, demanding that Narendra Modi spell out his stand on the issue.
“The PM’S silence is conspicuous. A PM who speaks on everything is silent on #Metoo. The silence raises questions on the dignity of the PM’S ofice. The country has been waiting for days for PM Modi’s to clear his stand on this,” Congress leader Anand Sharma said at a media event.