Panel plan

In the wake of the #MeToo campaign against sexual harassment, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi yesterday asked all political parties to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to hear the complaints of affected women in workplaces.

“I have requested the presidents/In-charge of all recognised National and State political parties to constitute the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as mandated under the Sexual Harassment At Work Act, 2013,” she said in tweets.

“This is in view of the fact that political parties employ a large number of personnel, including women, in their offices. It is our prerogative to ensure that women enjoy a safe working environment,” she said.

Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar was the latest high profile name against whom sexual harassment allegations were levelled by women journalists he had worked with.