#MeToo fallout: Akbar resigns
Women who had levelled molestation charges against him say they are vindicated
The #MeToo campaign claimed its first political scalp yesterday when M.J. Akbar quit as Minister of State for External Affairs ten days after several women came out with allegations of sexual harassment and molestation by him during his days as editor in the media.
Two days after defiantly resisting calls for his resignation, the 67-year-old former editor of the Asian Age, where much of the alleged harassment took place, made a brief statement announcing his resignation.
The resignation came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was under attack from the opposition for his silence on the issue. However, Akbar’s continuance in the government appeared untenable in the face of growing accusations despite his filing a defamation suit against one of the accusers, Priya Ramani, who first wrote about her ordeal while working with him.
Reacting to Akbar’s decision, the women, who had levelled the charges against him, said they were vindicated by his stepping down. The Congress said that the belated resignation of the minister was a result of persistent pressure put up by the women and asked if Modi will speak on the issue.
The accounts of women continued to pour even after Akbar had filed the defamation case and men, who had worked in the newspapers he edited, also came out in support of the women.
A Delhi court will today hear the defamation case filed by him.
Women journalists who accused former editor MJ Akbar of sexual harassment expressed happiness over him quitting as the Minister of State for External Affairs.
Journalist Priya Ramani was first to go public with her accusation and is facing a defamation suit filed by 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,” Ramani tweeted.
More than 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 damage his image in society.
Fight not over
Journalist Suparna Sharma, who had accused Akbar of plucking her bra strap, said the fight was not over.
“Akbar should have resigned immediately after returning to India instead of issuing a statement,” said Sharma referring to Akbar’s Sunday statement where he rubbished 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.
Journalist Harinder Baweja, who had also 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.