#MeToo: Women scribe group seeks Rajnath, Maneka intervention for fair probe against MJ Akbar

New Delhi: A leading women's body Tuesday wrote to Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Maneka Gandhi, urging their intervention for a "fair and impartial probe" against M J Akbar who is battling allegations of sexual harassment that have surfaced in the #MeToo campaign. The Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC), in the letter, expressed "dismay" that despite a long list of complaints involving Akbar, no formal inquiry comprising of serious charges of sexual harassment has been instituted at any level in the government.

"In addition to the investigation into the specific allegations against a minister, the government must also examine whether media organisations have put in place effective institutional mechanisms for dealing with sexual harassment as required by the law," said the letter signed by IWPC President T K Rajalakshmi and General Secretary Ravinder Bawa.

"Your intervention for a fair and impartial probe is only possible if the said minister relinquishes office in the interests of natural justice," they said in separate letters to Gandhi and Singh.

Allegations against Akbar have been levelled by several women journalists under social media campaign #Metoo against sexual misconduct. The Minister of State for External Affairs has denied the allegations and on Monday filed a private criminal defamation complaint against one of the scribes, Priya Ramani.

The IWPC also wrote to National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma, urging her to take suo motu cognisance of these complaints and come out with recommendations within a time frame.

"In addition to the investigation into the specific allegations against a minister, the Commission must also examine whether media organisations have put in place effective institutional mechanisms for dealing with sexual harassment as required by the law," they said in the letter.

They said since a number of complaints involve a senior minister in the central government, "we seek your intervention for a fair and impartial inquiry which the Commission with its statutory powers can undertake and recommend steps in the direction of redress".