[ad_1]
Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, MJ Akbar, rejected the growing calls for his resignation, accused of sexually harassing a dozen women journalists a few years ago, when he said he had been arrested. he was a leading editor.
On Sunday, upon his arrival here after a week-long tour in Africa, he broke the silence on the issue and issued a statement in which he claimed that the accusers were lying and threatened to take legal action to them. against.
He described the allegations as "fake" and "fabricated", embellished with "innuendo" and "malice", and asked if they were motivated by a political agenda before the general elections of the day. ;next year.
"The indictment without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections." In any case, now that I'm back, my lawyers will be looking at these far-fetched and unfounded allegations in order to decide what to do next. our legal actions, "said Akbar, 67. said in a statement from one page to the ANI news agency.
"Why did this storm come up a few months before a general election?" Is there an agenda? Be the judge. These false, unfounded and savage allegations have done irreparable damage to my reputation and to my good will, "said Akbar.
He quoted testimonies from journalists such as Priya Ramani, Paul Shutapa, Shuma Raha and Ghazala Wahab, who had called him to be part of the #MeToo movement, to assert that they had even admitted that "I have not been able to do this. he had not done anything. for them.
"If I did not do anything, where and what is the story?" There is no history. "This was admitted at the very beginning, but a sea of innuendo , of speculation and abusive rants built around something that never happened, rumors total and unfounded, others confirm, on the record, that I did not do anything He said, referring to Ramani's case.
"It is important to remember that Ms. Ramani and Ms. Wahab continued to work with me even after these alleged incidents, making it clear that they had no apprehension or discomfort, and the reason they remained silent during decades is very apparent, as Ms. Ramani said, I have never done anything, "he said in his statement.
"Lies do not have legs, but they contain poison, which can give rise to a frenzy.It is extremely painful.I will initiate the appropriate lawsuits," said Akbar.
Several parties have requested the dismissal of Akbar. The Minister of the Union for the Development of Women and Children, Maneka Gandhi, also requested an investigation.
Deputy Minister of Social Justice Ramdas Athawale said that Akbar should resign if the charges are proven. The government remained silent on the issue while Akbar attended a conference in Nigeria.
In his statement, he made no comment on the resignation requests. India Today learned that it was becoming increasingly untenable for the government and the party to justify keeping it.
But it was also thought that his resignation would pave the way for more allegations, and this was not a "precedent" that the party wanted to create.
The opposition criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "inaction" and "silence" over serious allegations against his minister.
Most reminded Modi of his "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" campaign. Majid Memon of the NCP said: "If a women's group or a group opposed to the BJP was to politically break a plot to discredit the BJP or to embarrass Prime Minister Modi, he would have chosen a much better minister than this man who n & # 39; 39, never contested the elections. "
Juhi Singh of the Samajwadi party said, "I think the BJP has nothing to do with the development and empowerment of women, no party leader is speaking against the minister, and that shows what kind of political they do."
Minister Sandeep Kapoor's legal adviser reiterated his position by leaving his official residence of Teen (Akbar), Teen Murti Lane, where they were meeting prior to the release of the statement.
"We have already issued a statement, please refer to it and we will take legal action," Kapoor said.
While the minister seeks legal recourse, press associations will show strong reactions to Sunday's developments.
The journalistic fraternity will review petitions, letters, protests, and even write to the Parliament's ethics committee.
#MeToo, which began in the United States in response to accusations of sexual harassment and abuse by powerful men more than a year ago, has accelerated in India in recent weeks. .
It was after the actor Tanushree Dutta accused her colleague Nana Patekar of inappropriate behavior on the sets of a movie that they were filming in 2008.
The charges against Akbar began to pour in after Ramani tweeted that he was the man she had talked about in an incident that she had shared in a magazine article last year.
(India Today TV)
Watch: Why does Modi rule the armor of MJ Akbar?
