Khaleej Times

Akbar should respond to #MeToo charges: Smriti

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new delhi — Amid allegation­s of sexual harassment against former editor and Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday said the “gentleman in question would be in a better position to answer.”

Irani is the second minister in Prime Minister Modi’s team, after Women and Child Developmen­t Minister Maneka Gandhi, to react to the allegation­s against Akbar in the rising #MeToo campaign in India.

Irani said she “appreciate­d” media for accosting his female collegues. “But I think it is for the gentleman to issue the statement and not me because I was personally not present there,” she said.

Irani said she had repeated time and again on the issue, especially about women speaking out. “Anybody who is speaking out in no way should be shamed, victimised or mocked,” she said.

“This is my only appeal to those witnessing this surge of outpouring of emotions of the anger on the internet and offline also,” she added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader’s remarks came after the government faced

The gentleman in question would be in a better position to answer.

Smriti Irani, Textiles Minister

flak from opposition parties over allegation­s of sexual harassment against Akbar.

On Tuesday, Maneka Gandhi also supported the #MeToo movement which has caused a storm in the film industry and singed newsrooms, reaching the Modi government with Akbar being named. —

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