ME Too Movement: MJ Akbar, Journalist Turned Politician, Compelled To Resign As MOS For External Affairs

INDIA’s Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, has resigned following allegations of sexual harassment made against him by several woman journalists who had worked with him when he was the founder –editor of the Asian Age and some other publications. He was abroad when the accusations   were being highlighted on media. Akbar,65, who  is originally from  Hooghly  district  of  West Bengal and  an alumnus of India’s Presidency College  located  in Kolkata, had become  a  noted  journalist  before  plunging into politics. He had represented Bihar’s Kisanganj    in the Lok Sabha as a Congress candidate.  He joined  ruling  Bharatiya  Janata  Party  in 2014 and  represents  the Rajya  Sabha  from Madhya  Pradesh. He has filed a defamation case in a Delhi court against the journalist, who was among the first accusers. Informed  sources  say  the Prime Minister  Narendra  Modi has  taken serious  view  of  the  allegations  and compelled  him to quit on Monday .PM  accepted  his resignation   forwarded the same  to   President  Ram Nath Kovind  who  also  okayed  it  as per the  established  Constitutional procedures  .In a brief statement, Akbar said he had decided to seek justice in a court of law in his personal capacity.”I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity. I have, therefore, tendered my resignation…,” Akbar said.Over the last fortnight, about 20 women have come forward to narrate their experiences of alleged sexual harassment at the hands of Akbar.