New Delhi: 20 women journalists and opposition Congress came out victorious after the minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar resigned on Wednesday from his post. Akbar who sued the women journalists who levied sexual harassment charges against him, resigned from his post saying that he will challenge the baseless allegation personally and hence he is resigning.
On the statement issued on Wednesday, he said, “Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity,” he said in a statement. “I have, therefore, tendered my resignation from the office of Minister of State for External Affairs. I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for the opportunity they gave me to serve my country.”
Akbar’s resignation came a day after 20 women journalists came out in support of Priya Ramani who first accused him on the charges of sexual harassment. The Union Minister had filed a defamation plea against Priya Ramani. The former journalist has been in the #MeToo storm for quite a few days.
Congress national spokesman M Afzal told that the remarks of women against M J Akbar can be compiled in a book. It seems that Asian Age was a ‘haram’ whose king was the ‘modern Akbar’. He said it is better that he withdraw the case and seek an apology.