Union Minister files defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani
New Delhi, Oct 15 (IBNS): Union minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar on Monday filed a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, days after she accused him of sexual misconduct.
Amid accusations of sexual harassment by several women journalists, Junior Foreign Minister MJ Akbar, who returned to India on Sunday, denied all allegations and called them 'false and fabricated'.
"The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. I could not reply earlier as I was on an official tour abroad. Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections," Akbar said in a statement.
Questioning the timing of the allegations, he said: "Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge. These false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill."
As the #MeToo campaign gained momentum in India several women journalists have levelled charges of sexual harassment against MJ Akbar, a former journalist.
A journalist named Priya Ramani was first among them to raise her voice directly against the Minister.
On Oct 8, Ramani tweeted: 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. #ulti https://www.vogue.in/content/harvey-weinsteins-open-letter-sexual-harassment/amp/#click=https://t.co/A2uHiJt9zd …"
Following the allegations, Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and Ravi Shankar Prasad refused to comment on the matter.
But Union Minister for Women & Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Friday announced that a Government-appointed four-member committee of retired judges will conduct public hearings of cases of sexual assault and harassment, being publicised as part of the #MeToo movement in India.
Reacting to the charges of sexual harassment levelled against M J Akbar, the WCD Minister said earlier this week that sex harassment complaints should be allowed even 10-15 years later. She also said she was happy that the #MeToo campaign has encouraged women to speak about crimes committed against them.
"You will always remember the person who did it, which is why we have written to the Law Ministry that complaints should be without any time limit," she had said.
The #MeToo movement in India virtually started after allegations of former actor Tanushree Dutta against veteran actor Nana Patekar.
Dutta accused Patekar of harassing her on the sets of a film 10 years ago.
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