Union Minister MJ Akbar who returned to India on Sunday from a tour of Africa refuted all the allegations of sexual harassment leveled by a number of women journalists in the last few days, amid mounting demand for his resignation.
Union Minister MJ Akbar who returned to India on Sunday from a tour of Africa refuted all the allegations of sexual harassment leveled by a number of women journalists in the last few days, amid mounting demand for his resignation.
"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," said Akbar in a statement.
The minister also said that he will take legal action against accusations made against him.
"Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action," Akbar said in a statement.
The minister also asked 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," he said.
Stating that lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy, Akbar said the allegations are deeply distressing. "I will be taking appropriate legal action."
Multiple women in the last few days have come out with accounts of alleged sexual harassment by Akbar when he was a journalist as the #MeToo movement swept social media, bringing to fore sordid tales of sexual harassment by influential men in different walks of life.
Akbar's name cropped up on social media earlier this week as part of the #MeToo movement and since then pressure has been increasing on the government to sack him.
The Congress has already demanded Akbar's ouster.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party has maintained a studied silence on the matter so far, party sources have said the charges against him are serious, and his continuance as a minister is no longer guaranteed.
A final call will be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A group of journalists Saturday held a protest here expressing solidarity with their women colleagues who have demanded proper implementation of the prevention of sexual harassment act to ensure dignity at workplace.
The protesting journalists also sought immediate action against those facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
They also demanded the removal of Akbar from the union council of ministers.
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