#MeToo in India: Lies may not have legs, but MJ Akbar's accusers have shown that courage does
6 years, 2 months ago

#MeToo in India: Lies may not have legs, but MJ Akbar's accusers have shown that courage does

Firstpost  

Akbar’s accusers seem unafraid. Within a few hours the whopping 97 lawyers listed in the vakaalatnama of Akbar’s defamation suit against Ramani has become the stuff of hilarity, with women writing new accounts about his behaviour and others pledging money to support Ramani’s legal defence. “Lies do not have legs,” Akbar said on 14 October, a day before filing a defamation suit against the most prominent of his accusers, journalist Priya Ramani. Given the highlights of the ruling party’s position on sexual assault and gender, it does seem unlikely that this government will ask Akbar to resign. In early 2017, I had argued in the face of the sexism of liberal men we shouldn’t be shocked and that, “we cannot be clannish about men, sisters, because men are not our clan.” The more we talk about the possibility that the men of our households, caste and class are culpable in violence and sexism towards women, the road forward will be clear.

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History of this topic

For millions of Indian women, this landmark MeToo ruling is an emotional moment of validation
3 years, 10 months ago

For millions of Indian women, this landmark MeToo ruling is an emotional moment of validation

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Journalist Priya …

#MeToo: Women speaking up against MJ Akbar required celebration, Priya Ramani tells court
4 years, 1 month ago

#MeToo: Women speaking up against MJ Akbar required celebration, Priya Ramani tells court

India Today  

The journalist, facing trial in a defamation case filed by the former union minister for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct 20 years back, asserted that speaking up on the #MeToo platform was not a crime and that these are “acts of extreme courage that require celebration”. Women who spoke about the sexual misconduct of former union …

#MeToo: MJ Akbar filed false case to create chilling effect among women, Priya Ramani tells court
5 years, 4 months ago

#MeToo: MJ Akbar filed false case to create chilling effect among women, Priya Ramani tells court

India Today  

Journalist Priya Ramani told a Delhi court on Friday that ex-Union minister MJ Akbar had filed a "false and malicious case" against her to create a "chilling effect" among all women who spoke out about their experiences of sexual harassment at his hands. "It is unfortunate that women who experienced sexual harassment at workplaces must now defend themselves in criminal …

Never Heard of #MeToo Allegations Against MJ Akbar: Witnesses
5 years, 5 months ago

Never Heard of #MeToo Allegations Against MJ Akbar: Witnesses

The Quint  

The court has posted the matter for further proceedings on 2 August. Akbar, who had resigned as a minister on 17 October 2018 following the allegations leveled during the campaign, had told the court that, "Ramani's tweets used language that was deeply offensive, maligning, in bad faith, and a web of fabrication spun out of the lies." Akbar filed a …

MJ Akbar features on cover of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas's booklet; journalists ask if BJP has forgotten #MeToo
5 years, 11 months ago

MJ Akbar features on cover of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas's booklet; journalists ask if BJP has forgotten #MeToo

Firstpost  

Former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar could also be spotted on the inside of the booklet, as a part of several official meetings of the ministry. Months after stepping down as a Union minister over charges of sexual harassment, MJ Akbar featured on the cover of an official booklet of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. India Today …

#MeToo in India: Former Asian Age editor Pallavi Gogoi accuses MJ Akbar of rape and mental abuse
6 years, 2 months ago

#MeToo in India: Former Asian Age editor Pallavi Gogoi accuses MJ Akbar of rape and mental abuse

Firstpost  

Yet another woman has spoken out against MJ Akbar, accusing him of rape, and mental and physical abuse. Currently the chief business editor of US-based National Public Radio, Pallavi Gogoi has accused Akbar of raping her when she was working with The Asian Age as a 23-year-old. The report said, “We reached out to Sandeep Kapur, MJ Akbar’s lawyer, for …

MeToo in India: Priya Ramani's allegations did 'immediate damage' to my reputation, MJ Akbar tells court; calls allegations baseless
6 years, 2 months ago

MeToo in India: Priya Ramani's allegations did 'immediate damage' to my reputation, MJ Akbar tells court; calls allegations baseless

Firstpost  

Former Union minister MJ Akbar on Wednesday appeared before a Delhi court to record his statement in the criminal defamation case filed by him against journalist Priya Ramani. When the article was published in Vogue India in 2017, it did not include my name”, Akbar said in court. This is mentioned in the tweet dated 8 October as well.” Akbar …

Tanushree Dutta: I said #MeToo in 2008 too. But 2018 has social media
6 years, 2 months ago

Tanushree Dutta: I said #MeToo in 2008 too. But 2018 has social media

India Today  

An actress who will be remembered for spearheading India's #MeToo movement and helping to bring about a much-needed reform in Bollywood, media, politics, and the workspace in general. Back in India after several years, Tanushree Dutta took on Nana Patekar in interview after interview and made it clear to everyone that she was not the one who could be silenced …

Not aware of any meeting between Sushma Swaraj and MJ Akbar, says MEA amid sexual allegations against journalist-turned politician
6 years, 2 months ago

Not aware of any meeting between Sushma Swaraj and MJ Akbar, says MEA amid sexual allegations against journalist-turned politician

India TV News  

Amid sexual allegations against journalist-turned politician MJ Akbar, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that he was not aware of any specific meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Akbar on the charges levelled against him. Akbar, a former journalist, stepped down on Wednesday in the face of mounting pressure following a spate of allegations of sexual harassment against him …

MJ Akbar quits: Modi went by Ajit Doval's advice to seek ex-editor's exit; mounting #MeToo charges swung decision
6 years, 2 months ago

MJ Akbar quits: Modi went by Ajit Doval's advice to seek ex-editor's exit; mounting #MeToo charges swung decision

Firstpost  

New Delhi: Less than 24 hours short of the scheduled hearing of former Minister of State MJ Akbar’s defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani by a magistrate’s court at Patiala House, a briefing from National Security Advisor Ajit Doval led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pull the rug from under the politician and demand his resignation, two senior government officials …

These data show how India's #MeToo uprising is making waves
6 years, 2 months ago

These data show how India's #MeToo uprising is making waves

India Today  

#MeToo, the global movement against sexual misconduct, received 17,500 mentions in editorial news in India in the past month, a media intelligence and big data firm said Tuesday. The firm, Meltwater, said 95 per cent of these mentions came in the last seven days of the time period considered. Globally, the company said, "India has been the most vocal about …

Big win for India’s #MeToo movement as M.J. Akbar resigns
6 years, 2 months ago

Big win for India’s #MeToo movement as M.J. Akbar resigns

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Minister of state for external affairs M.J. Akbar resigned from his post on Wednesday, a day before a Delhi court was to hear a criminal defamation case filed by him against journalist Priya Ramani, the first among a large number of female journalists to accuse the former newspaper editor of sexual harassment. In a brief statement explaining his …

As India's #MeToo skeletons tumble, victims face blame and shame
6 years, 2 months ago

As India's #MeToo skeletons tumble, victims face blame and shame

India Today  

MJ Akbar has resigned. A movie director said of Tanushree Dutta, whose allegations of Nana Patekar's misconduct are credited with fuelling India's #MeToo reckoning, that she misjudged his "encouragement". After Utsav Chakaborty, a comedian, was accused of sexual harassment, he admitted that he'd been "a piece of s**t." AIB's Tanmay Bhat knew about the allegations against Chakraborty, apologised, and said …

#MeToo campaign: Truth is my only defence, says Priya Ramani
6 years, 2 months ago

#MeToo campaign: Truth is my only defence, says Priya Ramani

Deccan Chronicle  

Bengaluru: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win: The Mahatma's words have scarcely rung more true than they do now, as women speaking out against sexual harassment find that the fight is just beginning. "These testimonies have emerged as a consequence of a slow but increasing empowerment of women over the …

#MeToo in India: MJ Akbar calls allegations 'false, fabricated'; how English, Hindi national dailies reported MoS' remarks
6 years, 3 months ago

#MeToo in India: MJ Akbar calls allegations 'false, fabricated'; how English, Hindi national dailies reported MoS' remarks

Firstpost  

Union minister MJ Akbar on Sunday termed allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by several women as “false, fabricated and deeply distressing” and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them Union minister MJ Akbar on Sunday termed allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by several women as “false, fabricated and deeply distressing” and said he was …

#MeToo in India: By not asking MJ Akbar to go, BJP is on the wrong side of ethics, risks its equity with voters
6 years, 3 months ago

#MeToo in India: By not asking MJ Akbar to go, BJP is on the wrong side of ethics, risks its equity with voters

Firstpost  

It was presumed Akbar would be made to quit because the allegations against him have generated terrible headlines. It is hard to believe that Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar did not consult Prime Minister Narendra Modi before issuing a statement in which he said his lawyers will look into the “wild and baseless allegations in order to …

MJ Akbar accused of sexual harassment: Former journalist's fall from grace a defining moment for Indian politics, #MeToo India
6 years, 3 months ago

MJ Akbar accused of sexual harassment: Former journalist's fall from grace a defining moment for Indian politics, #MeToo India

Firstpost  

Akbar’s case could well be a defining moment in Indian politics: the way such accusations are perceived and the subsequent action by political bosses Editor’s Note: Pressure has been increasing on junior foreign minister MJ Akbar to resign after his return to India from an official trip. *** MJ Akbar’s case could well be a defining moment in Indian politics: …

MeToo: MJ Akbar to return to India today; BJP likely to take clear stand as calls for junior minister's resignation grow
6 years, 3 months ago

MeToo: MJ Akbar to return to India today; BJP likely to take clear stand as calls for junior minister's resignation grow

Firstpost  

Amid an increasing clamour for Union minister MJ Akbar’s resignation, the BJP is likely to take a clear stand on the allegations of sexual harassment against him once he explains his position upon his scheduled return to India on Sunday New Delhi: Amid an increasing clamour for Union minister MJ Akbar’s resignation, the BJP is likely to take a clear …

#MeToo: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom — 18 women share their ordeal
6 years, 3 months ago

#MeToo: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom — 18 women share their ordeal

Firstpost  

Women have recounted harrowing experiences with MJ Akbar, including behaviour ranging from sexual harassment to sexism to abuse of power in his capacity as the editor of a number of leading publications. If you invest in women, you invest in future.” — This was a statement believed to have been made recently in Nigeria by India’s junior minister of external …

#MeToo: Several women allege sexual harassment by Union Minister and then Editor MJ Akbar
6 years, 3 months ago

#MeToo: Several women allege sexual harassment by Union Minister and then Editor MJ Akbar

Op India  

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and former editor of The Telegraph, M.J. Akbar, has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple people online in India’s version of #MeToo movement that is currently going on. In what appears to be a pattern, Akbar is alleged to have interviewed female journalists in hotel rooms, asking them to sit on the …

'Men in power often do this, there should be probe': BJP's Maneka Gandhi reacts to #MeTooIndia, accusation against 'big' politician
6 years, 3 months ago

'Men in power often do this, there should be probe': BJP's Maneka Gandhi reacts to #MeTooIndia, accusation against 'big' politician

Firstpost  

Maneka, in contrast is also one of the very few voices to have reacted to the MeToo movement as she even came out in support of actor Tanushree Dutta, whose allegations against well-known social worker and veteran actor Nana Patekar sparked off the movement in India The ‘MeToo’ movement, primarily singeing newsrooms and the entertainment industry, reached the power corridors …

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