While a number of actors, producers, singers, cricketers and journalists are stuck in the storm of #MeToo movement, MJ Akbar is the first political public figure to feature in the growing list of India’s own #MeToo movement that is gathering momentum since it broke on social media last week.
Congress party has demanded the resignation of Union Minister MJ Akbar after allegations of sexual assault against him came out in the public domain.
Speaking at a press conference, Congress leader Jaipal Reddy said, “Union Minister MJ Akbar should either give a satisfactory answer to the allegations or he should resign. We demand an inquiry into the matter.”
Akbar, a former journalist and now the Minister of State for External Affairs, has been accused of sexually harassing woman journalists during his time in the media.
At least six women journalists have come on record to accuse MoS Akbar of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour when he worked as a newspaper editor. Akbar, on a visit to Nigeria with a trade delegation, did not respond to an email, calls and WhatsApp messages sent to him seeking his comment.
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Party (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi also condemned Akbar and demanded his resignation.
The BJP did not respond to these allegations. When Akbar’s senior, Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj was asked by a reporter to comment on the issue, she did not
