INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
resign as union minister over sex harassment allegations against him, has now been accused of rape by a US-based journalist who worked with
MJ Akbar has dismissed the allegations as false, his lawyer told The Washington Post, which has published the first person account of
Pallavi Gogoi, an editor at the National Public Radio (NPR).Pallavi Gogoi writes that MJ Akbar was the Editor-In-Chief at The Asian Age when
she joined the newspaper as a "22-year-old star-struck journalist".She says she was "mesmerized by his use of language and his turns of
phrase" and took all the "verbal abuse" as part of the learning process.She soon became the editor of the op-ed page, but ended up paying a
effort and suddenly lunged to kiss me
magazine, "he called me to his room at the fancy Taj hotel (in Mumbai), again to see the layouts
When he again came close to me to kiss me, I fought him and pushed him away
He scratched my face as I ran away, tears streaming down."It was followed by another call from her boss, this time from a hotel in Jaipur
"I was in shreds -- emotionally, physically, mentally."She wraps her piece with, "I am writing this to support the many women who have come
I am writing this for my teenage daughter and son
So they know to fight back when anyone victimizes them
So they know never to victimize anyone."Over 20 former colleagues of MJ Akbar have come out with their versions of abuse by a powerful
He sued one of them for defamation.MJ Akbar has accused Priya Ramani, the first woman to call him out, of "intentionally putting forward
malicious, fabricated and salacious" allegations to harm his reputation.After resigning as junior foreign minister on October 17, MJ Akbar
said in a statement, "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."Ms Ramani said she was ready to fight the defamation complaint and "truth and
the absolute truth is my only defence"
Women who have spoken against Mr Akbar "have done so at great risk to personal and professional lives," she said.After Ms Ramani more women
posted allegations against Mr Akbar
The list includes Prerna Singh Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Shutapa Paul, Anju Bharti, Suparna Sharma, Shuma Raha, Malini Bhupta, Kanika Gahlout,
Kadambari M Wade, Majlie de Puy Kamp and Ruth David.The #MeToo movement, which began in the United States more than a year ago after the
Harvey Weinstein scandal, opened a can of worms in India in September soon after actor Tanushree Dutta accused her senior and film artiste
Nana Patekar of sexual harassment
Since then, several men in the media, entertainment, political and art worlds have been accused of offences ranging from sexual harassment
to rape.If you would like to share any information relevant to TheIndianSubcontinent, please email worksecure@TheIndianSubcontinent.com
