BJP's silence on sexual harassment charges against MJ Akbar goes against RSS tenets, writes ABVP activist Rashmi Das
6 years, 3 months ago

BJP's silence on sexual harassment charges against MJ Akbar goes against RSS tenets, writes ABVP activist Rashmi Das

Firstpost  

For a few days, people like me who have spent decades in Sangh Parivar organisations have read with disgust and rage, the revelations about MJ Akbar Editor’s Note: This article has been republished in the light of junior foreign minister MJ Akbar’s return to India. For a few days now, people like me who have spent more than two decades in Sangh Parivar organisations have read with disgust and rage, the revelations about MJ Akbar. I have seen people including BJP men and women leerily ask “what took them so many years”. It was common knowledge that the Asian Age newsroom was described as “Akbar’s harem” because of the disproportionality of young women in there and yet the Press Council of India or the Editors Guild did not think it worthy of attention.

Women Men Bjp Sangh Parivar Woman Rss Abvp Akbar Mj Akbar Wosy  men  women  rashmi  akbar  tenets  mj  woman  bjp  silence  sexual  das  harassment  world  wosy  writes  rss  sangh  abvp  students  goes

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 …

MJ Akbar Not A Man Of 'Stellar Reputation', Delhi Court Says Based On Priya Ramani, Ghazala Wahab Testimonies
3 years, 10 months ago

MJ Akbar Not A Man Of 'Stellar Reputation', Delhi Court Says Based On Priya Ramani, Ghazala Wahab Testimonies

Live Law  

Senior editor and former Union Minister MJ Akbar cannot be regarded as a "man of stellar reputation", observed a Delhi Court while dismissing his criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani over her sexual harassment allegations made against him.The Court made this observation on the basis of testimonies of Ramani and journalist Ghazala Wahab, who detailed their experiences. Senior editor …

MJ Akbar's counsel makes closing arguments in Priya Ramani defamation case; next hearing on 24 Dec
4 years ago

MJ Akbar's counsel makes closing arguments in Priya Ramani defamation case; next hearing on 24 Dec

Firstpost  

MJ Akbar’s lawyer Geeta Luthra made her concluding arguments on Tuesday in a Delhi court in the former Union minister’s defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani. In 2018, [Ramani> said something for the first time and tarnished [Akbar’s> reputation of 40 years,” Luthra added. Akbar’s legal team countered Ramani’s counsel’s argument for why others who had made similar allegations against …

MJ Akbar diverting attention from misconduct through defamation case, Priya Ramani tells Delhi court
5 years, 4 months ago

MJ Akbar diverting attention from misconduct through defamation case, Priya Ramani tells Delhi court

Firstpost  

Journalist Priya Ramani told a Delhi court on Friday, 23 August, 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 …

MJ Akbar appears in court in defamation case
5 years, 8 months ago

MJ Akbar appears in court in defamation case

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Delhi Rouse Avenue court on Saturday recorded statements of former Union minister MJ Akbar in the defamation case filed by him against journalist Priya Ramani after she accused him of sexual misconduct. Journalist-turned-politician Akbar had filed a criminal defamation case against Ramani, the first woman journalist to publicly accuse him of harassment after issuing a statement denying …

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 …

MJ Akbar quits: Inside story of how BJP leadership took final call amid mounting pressure, differences in Cabinet
6 years, 2 months ago

MJ Akbar quits: Inside story of how BJP leadership took final call amid mounting pressure, differences in Cabinet

Firstpost  

At least two senior ministers—perceived to be very important in the government—felt allegations on social media should not mean Akbar’s removal from the council of ministers. Then, around 20 women, as part of a #MeToo campaign, came forward on social media to accuse Akbar of making unwanted advances and sexually harassing them in hotel rooms or at the office. Unsure …

MJ Akbar quits: Silence from politicos, Twitter tiffs show why majority of harassed women choose to keep mum
6 years, 2 months ago

MJ Akbar quits: Silence from politicos, Twitter tiffs show why majority of harassed women choose to keep mum

Firstpost  

It seems like good sense prevailed in the end. Argument one, which is the dominant one, is usually found among those men who probably never actually harassed anyone themselves, but are instinctively suspicious of attractive and bright women at the work place. At the workplace, men are naturally attracted to good looking women, but don’t act on it for a …

We're happy MJ Akbar did correct thing, expect him to drop bogus defamation case, say 20 journalists from Asian Age
6 years, 2 months ago

We're happy MJ Akbar did correct thing, expect him to drop bogus defamation case, say 20 journalists from Asian Age

Firstpost  

With MJ Akbar announcing his decision to quit as the Minister of State for External Affairs on Wednesday, 20 of his former women colleagues — who together wrote a petition against him — welcomed his move to step down. After MJ Akbar announced his decision to quit as the junior external affairs minister on Wednesday, 20 of his former women …

Patiala House Court To Hear MJ Akbar's Defamation Case Tomorrow
6 years, 2 months ago

Patiala House Court To Hear MJ Akbar's Defamation Case Tomorrow

Live Law  

M J Akbar's criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani, who has accused him of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago, is scheduled to come up for hearing on Thursday in the Patiala House court here.Akbar on Wednesday tendered his resignation as Minister of State for External Affairs.His lawyer Sandeep Kapur of law firm Karanjawala & Co said that the …

#MeToo: Twenty journalists pledge to testify against MJ Akbar in court over sexual harassment allegations
6 years, 2 months ago

#MeToo: Twenty journalists pledge to testify against MJ Akbar in court over sexual harassment allegations

Op India  

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and former editor of ‘The Telegraph’ and ‘The Asian Age’, MJ Akbar, whose name has surfaced in India’s version of #MeToo movement as an accused, had filed a defamation case in his defence against the prime accuser, journalist, Priya Ramani. The journalists who worked with ‘The Asian Age’- MJ Akbar was the editor …

MJ Akbar vs Priya Ramani: Junior minister tries to exhaust one accuser through legal means, and system might just allow it
6 years, 2 months ago

MJ Akbar vs Priya Ramani: Junior minister tries to exhaust one accuser through legal means, and system might just allow it

Firstpost  

Had the current laws been in place when the women suffered at the hands of MJ Akbar, they could have approached the police or the internal complaints committeeat the organisations where he worked. MJ Akbar’s criminal defamation complaint against Priya Ramani, who accused him of sexual harassment, is a straightforward attempt at harassment and intimidation. Women’s NGOs had moved the …

Indian minister MJ Akbar resigns over #MeToo allegations
6 years, 2 months ago

Indian minister MJ Akbar resigns over #MeToo allegations

Al Jazeera  

MJ Akbar, the minister of state for external affairs, resigns after he was accused of sexual harassment by 20 women. India’s junior foreign minister has announced his resignation following allegations of sexual harassment by a string of women, as the country’s fledgling #MeToo movement gathers pace. {articleGUID} “Akbar’s resignation was overdue,” Shuma Raha, senior journalist, who had accused Akbar of …

Women journalists' group demands Akbar's dismissal, writes to President, PM
6 years, 2 months ago

Women journalists' group demands Akbar's dismissal, writes to President, PM

The Quint  

New Delhi, Oct 16 A group of women journalists has written to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the dismissal of Union Minister M.J. Akbar, who has been accused of sexual harassment by a dozen-odd women. "You will agree that this is highly unethical and improper and will cast a cloud over any investigation into his …

Full text: Network of Women in Media pens letter to president and PM demanding MJ Akbar's resignation
6 years, 2 months ago

Full text: Network of Women in Media pens letter to president and PM demanding MJ Akbar's resignation

Firstpost  

Network of Women in Media, India wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday demanding the resignation of MJ Akbar in the wake of multiple sexual harassment charges against the junior external affairs minister. *** Network of Women in Media, India wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi …

Journalists' groups 'disappointed' with MJ Akbar's statement on sexual misconduct charges, demand that he step down from post
6 years, 3 months ago

Journalists' groups 'disappointed' with MJ Akbar's statement on sexual misconduct charges, demand that he step down from post

Firstpost  

The statement by a group of journalists’ associations came the day MJ Akbar filed a criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani, who was the first to publicly accuse him of sexual misconduct. A group of journalists’ associations has demanded that Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar step down from his post in the government, following a barrage of …

'MJ Akbar wants to silence women through intimidation': Priya Ramani after Union minister files defamation suit
6 years, 3 months ago

'MJ Akbar wants to silence women through intimidation': Priya Ramani after Union minister files defamation suit

Firstpost  

Pirya Ramani registered a “strong protest” against MJ Akbar’s most recent statement, “which pays no heed to the trauma and fear of survivors or the courage required to speak truth to power”. Journalist Priya Ramani on Monday said by suing her for criminal defamation, Union minister MJ Akbar “has made his stand clear: rather than engage with the serious allegations …

'Either MJ Akbar is lying or age has caught up with him': Ghazala Wahab on Union minister's statement over harassment charges
6 years, 3 months ago

'Either MJ Akbar is lying or age has caught up with him': Ghazala Wahab on Union minister's statement over harassment charges

Firstpost  

Wahab wrote that there was only one sentence in Akbar’s statement — “Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison”— which had truth to it. I would prefer believing the latter, so here is something to refresh his memory.” Wahab wrote that there was only one sentence in Akbar’s statement — “Lies do not have legs, but they …

Maybe MJ Akbar Didn’t Harass Me Years Ago. Maybe I Imagined it All
6 years, 3 months ago

Maybe MJ Akbar Didn’t Harass Me Years Ago. Maybe I Imagined it All

The Quint  

Small mercies from big Gods are the blessings we women must learn to count instead of trying to put legs on lies in times of blind shamelessness. Perhaps the ugliness is all in my mind alone; perhaps I have not had the sense to decode his legal, perfectly legal behavior that’s suitably propped up by his perception of power and …

M.J. Akbar files criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani
6 years, 3 months ago

M.J. Akbar files criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Journalist-turned-politician M.J. Akbar on Monday filed a criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani, the first woman journalist to publicly accuse him of harassment, a day after issuing a statement denying charges of sexual assault andharassment levelled against him. More than 10 women, apart from Mint Lounge columnist Priya Ramani have over the past few days recounted instances of …

#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 …

Woman journalists firm on their charges against MJ Akbar, Opposition questions PM Modi's silence
6 years, 3 months ago

Woman journalists firm on their charges against MJ Akbar, Opposition questions PM Modi's silence

India Today  

The woman journalists who have accused Union minister MJ Akbar of sexual harassment have reiterated their stand in response to Akbar's claim that charges against him are "fabricated". Responding to the stand taken by the Modi government and the silence of women ministers like Sushma Swaraj, Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and Maneka Gandhi, senior journalist Ghazala Wahab, who has accused …

With no word on resignation, MJ Akbar denies charges of sexual misconduct; Congress says he's 'adding insult to injury'
6 years, 3 months ago

With no word on resignation, MJ Akbar denies charges of sexual misconduct; Congress says he's 'adding insult to injury'

Firstpost  

MJ Akbar, who is facing charges of sexual harassment and wrongdoing by at least 14 women, called the allegations “false, wild and baseless” and vowed to take legal action. Giving no indication of resigning from the government, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar, who is facing charges of sexual harassment and wrongdoing by at least 14 women, on …

'Question of women's dignity': Congress asks Narendra Modi to break silence over sexual misconduct charges against MJ Akbar
6 years, 3 months ago

'Question of women's dignity': Congress asks Narendra Modi to break silence over sexual misconduct charges against MJ Akbar

Firstpost  

Many female journalists have accused MJ Akbar of sexual harassment at various stages of his journalistic career. New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence over his ministerial colleague MJ Akbar, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment. Union Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar earlier on Sunday returned from an …

MJ Akbar denies the allegations of sexual misconduct against him
6 years, 3 months ago

MJ Akbar denies the allegations of sexual misconduct against him

Op India  

Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar has dismissed all the allegations of sexual misconduct against him as ‘false and fabricated’ and ‘malicious’. Several women colleagues of MJ Akbar have come out with allegations of sexual misconduct against him when he held senior editorial positions in a number of media organisations. Whatever be the case, now that I have …

MJ Akbar denies 'false and fabricated' sexual misconduct charges, to take legal action; no clarity on resignation yet
6 years, 3 months ago

MJ Akbar denies 'false and fabricated' sexual misconduct charges, to take legal action; no clarity on resignation yet

Firstpost  

In his statement, MJ Akbar individually referred to some of the women who accused him of sexual misconduct, questioning why they had made the ‘wild and baseless’ allegations ahead of the general elections. In his statement, Akbar said his lawyers will look into the “wild and baseless” allegations of sexual misconduct against him, and he will take legal action against …

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: …

MJ Akbar to 'issue statement on sexual misconduct allegations later'; no consensus among BJP leaders yet on his resignation
6 years, 3 months ago

MJ Akbar to 'issue statement on sexual misconduct allegations later'; no consensus among BJP leaders yet on his resignation

Firstpost  

MJ Akbar came under the scanner after several of his former colleagues accused him of sexual misconduct when he held senior editorial positions at a number of media organisations. New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar, who arrived in India on early Sunday morning refrained from speaking on sexual misconduct allegations levelled against him, while saying he …

#MeToo: Charges of sexual harassment against MJ Akbar will be examined, says Amit Shah
6 years, 3 months ago

#MeToo: Charges of sexual harassment against MJ Akbar will be examined, says Amit Shah

Op India  

Speaking to media, BJP President Amit Shah has come out and addressed the grave allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the Junior Foreign Minister MJ Akbar. Former journalist MJ Akbar is under fire after several women journalists who worked with him in the past have alleged serious charges of harassment and inappropriate behaviour against him. One can infer that Amit …

MJ Akbar continues Africa tour with Malabo visit; junior external affairs minister to return to India on 14 October
6 years, 3 months ago

MJ Akbar continues Africa tour with Malabo visit; junior external affairs minister to return to India on 14 October

Firstpost  

Even as allegations of sexual harassment against MJ Akbar were made public by more than a dozen women journalists during his visit to Nigeria, the junior minister for external affairs is continuing his tour of Africa and is only expected to return to India on 14 October, CNN News18 reported. He delivered a lecture on ‘Geo-Strategic Relations between India and …

'Consistent in my condemnation of culture at Asian Age created by MJ Akbar': Ex-bureau chief Seema Mustafa backs Ghazala Wahab
6 years, 3 months ago

'Consistent in my condemnation of culture at Asian Age created by MJ Akbar': Ex-bureau chief Seema Mustafa backs Ghazala Wahab

Firstpost  

About Ghazala Wahab’s complaint against MJ Akbar, former Asian Age bureau chief Seema Mustafa said she does not recall anyone coming forth, but she believes that Wahab confided in her. “Anyone who knows me can vouch for the fact that I have, over the years, been consistent in my condemnation - both on and off the record - of the …

#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 …

Discover Related