Several accounts of the former newspaper editor-turned BJP minister violating consent and conducting uncomfortable interviews with female journalists in hotel rooms have come to light.
From left to right: Minister of state for external affairs M.J. Akbar, MoS V.K. Singh, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New Delhi: With #MeToo jolting the Indian media with one account after the other, big names have been tumbling out with each passing day. Among the latest to be named by survivors is veteran journalist and minister of state for external affairs, M.J. Akbar. So far, allegations of sexual harassment have been made against him by six journalists.
Former Mint Lounge editor Priya Ramani was the first to call him out, via a tweet. Ramani had written about her whole experience in a Vogue India article in October 2017 where she called out a ‘celebrity editior’ without naming him for his inappropriate behaviour with women journalists. She also described how Akbar set up interviews with women journalists in hotel rooms “with drinks at hand”.
“You are an expert on obscene phone calls, texts, inappropriate compliments and not taking no for an answer. You know how to pinch, pat, rub, grab and assault. Speaking up against you still carries a heavy price that many young women cannot afford to pay. Sometimes you are inconvenienced when the stories get out and you are asked to take a time out. Often, you are quickly reinstated. Why would you need to evolve, right?” the article opens.
On Monday, Ramani publicly identified Akbar as the central character of her piece.
I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t “do” anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they’ll share. #ulti https://t.co/5jVU5WHHo7
— Priya Ramani (@priyaramani) October 8, 2018
Within hours, at least three more women journalists made allegations of sexual harassment against Akbar, who is presently a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and has been at the helm of renowned newspapers like The Telegraph, The Sunday Guardianand the Asian Age.
He was this brilliant,flamboyant #editor who dabbled in politics, who called me-my 1st job- to his hotel room to ‘discuss work’, after i put the edition to bed-read midnight, & made life at work hell when i refused.,cudnt speak up due to various compulsions, but yes #MeTooIndia
— prerna singh bindra (@prernabindra) October 6, 2018
@It was #MJAkbar I do not say this lightly..i know the consequences of false accusations &it has been now 17 yrs &i have no concrete proof. but i was young, just made features editor, super impressed with our brilliant editor, sensitive writer(read Riot after Riot), 1/4
— prerna singh bindra (@prernabindra) October 9, 2018
OMG! He turned up at my friend’s house one night for a coffee. As a single mother with a sleeping child she told him she could neither invite him in nor go out with him. From next day he made life hell for her at their workplace https://t.co/3XRj7oWK94
— Sujata Anandan (@sujataanandan) October 8, 2018
In this case, #MeToo. Year: 1995, Place Taj Bengal, Kolkata. After that encounter, I declined the job offer.
— Shuma Raha (@ShumaRaha) October 8, 2018
So many of us have an MJ story. “Can I come over to your house with a bottle of rum?” he said. NO, was the answer…. Couldnt ‘do’ anything. Some dont get the meaning of No… they move on to the next, dont they https://t.co/eMnO6Y3PNX
— Harinder Baweja (@shammybaweja) October 8, 2018
Mine was in India Today late night party thrown by Aroon Purie, how he got drunk and took females in pool and had ‘fun’ what he said …@anjanaomkashyap@PadmajaJoshi @PreetiChoudhry #Metoo #MeTooIndia
— anju bharti (@153anju) October 9, 2018
The Wire has contacted Akbar to seek his response to these allegations and others that have been shared with The Wire and this report will be updated if he responds.
A screenshot of The Wire‘s attempt to reach M.J. Akbar.
Akbar, The Wire has learnt, is out of the country at present and is scheduled to return in three days.
MoS for External Affairs @mjakbar addressing India-West Africa Regional Conclave orgniazed by CII &EXIM Bank in #Abuja. All West African countries-7 Ministerial and 8 official delegations with 70-Member CII Business Delegation attending event.@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @CIIEvents pic.twitter.com/bYlTnwiA5R
— India in Nigeria (@india_nigeria) October 8, 2018
On Tuesday, minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj was asked whether the ministry will be internally probing the allegations against Akbar. In a video of the encounter, Swaraj can be seen ducking the questions and walking away.
To my pointed question on if an internal probe will happen on #SexualHarassmentallegations against @mjakbar , EAM @SushmaSwaraj refuses to comment. Still waiting for a ministry statement @thetribunechd @MEAIndia #MeToopic.twitter.com/ZHZ3EJhCPl
— Smita Sharma (@Smita_Sharma) October 9, 2018
The MEA has so far declined to comment on the matter. Sources in the MEA have said that the allegations of misconduct do not pertain to his tenure as a minister of the government.
What began with Tanushree Dutta accusing her co-star Nana Patekar of harassing her repeatedly, snowballed when AIB comedian Utsav Chakraborty was accused on October 4 of sexually harassing a woman on social media by sending her “unsolicited dick pics” and asking for her nude pictures.
Soon after, journalist Sandhya Menon shared an account of being harassed by K.R. Sreenivas, currently resident editor of the Times of India in Hyderabad, in 2008 when they both worked at the Bangalore Mirror.
Menon followed that account with another one about Gautam Adhikari, former editor in chief of DNA in Mumbai. Following a night out with Menon and a friend, Menon said Adhikari kissed her without consent and then later asked her not to tell anyone.
Hindustan Times chief of bureau Prashant Jha has also stepped down after allegations against him were levelled by a former colleague.
After seven women petitioned the Times of India to take action against its Hyderabad editor K.R. Sreenivas, he has been sent on ‘administrative leave,’ according to a statement sent out by the organisation.
AIB co-founder and CEO, Tanmay Bhat has also stepped away from the company in light of his inaction after the woman accused Chakraborty of sexual assault. Gursimran Khamba, another AIB co-founder, was also hit by allegations and he has been sent on a temporary leave of absence from AIB until there is more clarity on the matter.
Telangana 