Stung by #MeToo, M.J. Akbar tenders resignation

Union Minister M.J. Akbar has reportedly tendered his resignation, putting an end to the speculation surrounding the future of the veteran journalist who was accused of sexual harassment in the #MeToo movement that rocked India. In a statement accessed by ANI, MEA Minister of State Akbar wrote that since he has decided to seek justice in a court of law, he has deemed it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations in personal capacity.

Akbar, who was on a diplomatic tour in Africa, had returned to India on Sunday—almost a week after he was accused of sexual harassment in the ongoing #MeToo movement. When he reached New Delhi, he was greeted with a volley of questions from journalists at the airport. Belying reports that he would tender his resignation, the veteran editor, accused by more than a dozen women journalists of sexual harassment, filed a private criminal defamation complaint against Priya Ramani, who was the first one to name him. Akbar accused Ramani of "wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously" defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation. In his first statement on Sunday after returning from Nigeria, Akbar responded to the demands for his resignation by terming the accusations against him "false, fabricated and deeply distressing".

When it came to the allegations against the former journalist, the saffron party stood divided. In the political circles, strict action was expected against Akbar; Dattatreya Hosabale, the number third in the RSS chain of authority, tweeted in support of #MeToo.

BJP president Amit Shah had promised to look into the charges. "We have to see if charges on Akbar are true," Shah said, adding, "We have to check the veracity of the post and the person who posted it. You can also post something using my name." Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi, without naming Akbar, had urged the Centre to launch an investigation into the matter. "There should be an investigation. Men in position of power often do this. This applies to media, politics and seniors working in companies," she said. However, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi had extended support to Akbar saying the issue of his resignation should be raised only after a thorough probe.

The first direct allegation against Akbar was made by journalist Priya Ramani, who tweeted about an article she wrote on the MeToo movement for Vogue in October 2017. On Monday, Ramani revealed that the article was about Akbar, tweeting, “I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t “do” anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they’ll share.” The article describes how an unnamed editor tried to misbehave with Ramani during a job interview in his room at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai when she was just 23 and he was 43.

(With PTI inputs)