Union Minister MJ Akbar stepped down on Wednesday after several women accused him of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct amid the #MeToo wave sweeping across the country.
Union Minister MJ Akbar stepped down on Wednesday after several women accused him of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct amid the #MeToo wave sweeping across the country.
His resignation came a day before the Patiala House Court is due to take up the criminal defamation complaint he filed against journalist Priya Ramani, one of his many accusers, and a day after 20 women came out in support of Ramani, stating they were ready to testify in court to back her allegations.
While offering to resign as Minister of State for External Affairs, the scribe-turned-politician said he would challenge the 'false accusations' in personal capacity. President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation with immediate effect "at the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
On Tuesday evening, the National Security Advisor had called on Akbar at his home here, indicating that there was a nudge from the government behind the move. Akbar had sought a meeting with the Prime Minister soon after his return from Africa on Sunday, but was not given an appointment.
The government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), both of which Akbar is a part, had earlier decided to brazen it out, thinking the allegations would blow over.
It was also assumed that the defamation suit would stop the flood of allegations, sources here said requesting complete anonymity. They further said that party spokespersons were directed to take a defensive line with the argument that the charges dated back to his time as an editor, and had nothing to do with his term in the government.
But the allegations only grew in number, from nine to 20 over the four days till his resignation.
Official sources said there the ruling dispensation was "discomfited" and the Bharatiya Janata Party anxious when Congress asked its youth leader Fairoz Khan to step down following somewhat similar charges. It was believed the Opposition party was preparing the ground to use the allegations against Akbar in the upcoming assembly polls, weaning women voters off the BJP.
"His continuation began to be seen a liability.
Keeping in view the aggressive tone of the Opposition, it was assessed that his continuation would come with a heavy political cost," a senior BJP leader told DNA.
There was also pressure from within the government. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi aggressively sought action against such "sexual behaviour". On Friday, she announced that her ministry would consider establishing a legal panel to investigate the spate of #MeToo allegations that have emerged on the microblogging site. Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani had announced unqualified support to the movement.
On Tuesday, 70 former bureaucrats including chief secretaries, union secretaries and ambassadors, sent a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, pushing for the minister's exit for the sake of fair investigation. "We express deep disappointment and outrage at the conspicuous lack of action by the Government of India in responding to the statements by 20 women regarding the sexual harassment faced by them from a person who is today a member of the Union Council of Ministers," the letter said.
The statement Akbar released on Wednesday read: "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."
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