Rather than engage with the serious allegations that many women have made against him, Union Minister M.J. Akbar seeks to silence them through intimidation and harassment, senior journalist Priya Ramani said on Monday. She was responding to the criminal defamation charges filed against her by the Minister.
In a detailed statement, Ms. Ramani said these testimonies against Mr. Akbar and other media professionals had emerged as the consequence of a slow but increasing empowerment of women over the years. Those who had spoken out against Mr. Akbar had done so at great risk to their personal and professional lives.
Fighting stigma
“At this moment, it is disingenuous to ask why they have spoken now, as we are well aware of the stigma and shame that sexual crimes inflict upon victims. Rather than cast aspersions on the intent and motives of these women, we must reflect on how to improve the workplace for future generations of men and women,” she said. Protesting against Mr. Akbar’s recent statement, she said it ignored the trauma and fear of survivors and it was deeply disappointing that he chose to dismiss the allegations as a “political conspiracy”.
“By instituting a case of criminal defamation against me, Mr. Akbar has made his stand clear: rather than engage with the serious allegations that many women have made against him, he seeks to silence them through intimidation and harassment,” she said.
Ms. Ramani has made it clear that she would fight the case. “Truth and the absolute truth is my only defence,” she added.
Ghazala Wahab, the other senior journalist who has written about her experience of being harassed at work by Mr. Akbar during her stint at the Asian Age , refused to comment on the defamation case. She told The Hindu that she had been advised not to speak about the issue any more.
BJP’s guarded response
In its first comments on the allegations against the Union Minister, the BJP said on Monday that Mr. Akbar had given his version and that it is not about whether the party agrees or disagrees with him.
At a press conference, BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao was responding to a question whether the ruling party agreed with Mr. Akbar.
“It is not about agreeing or disagreeing. He has presented his version,” Mr. Rao said.
Expressing disappointment at Mr. Akbar’s statement, a joint statement by media organisations said his response should have reflected the responsibility that his office bestows on him.
The statement signed by the Indian Women Press Corps, Press Club of India, Press Association and South Asian Women in Media, said sexual harassment at the workplace is a worrisome reality and the organisations are deeply concerned with overwhelming complaints of harassment in the media.
For impartial probe
“Mr. Akbar is a senior functionary of the government and his response should reflect the responsibility that is thus bestowed on him. There can be no dispute about the need for an impartial probe into all the complaints without fear of threat or intimidation to the complainants — and this acquires particular significance if one of the accused is an influential minister in the government,” the statement said.
In the interests of a fair probe, moral and public propriety, Mr Akbar should have resigned till the inquiry is completed, the statement said.
“We are disappointed that Mr. Akbar did not choose to take this step instead of threatening the complainants with legal action,” the statement said.
