#MeToo: Will fight case in personal capacity, says MJ Akbar; activists welcome resignation

NEW DELHI: Some of the women journalists who had spoken out against Union minister MJ Akbar for alleged sexual misconduct welcomed his resignation on Wednesday, saying they felt "vindicated", but noted that they had a long battle ahead for justice.

Akbar, the minister of state for external affairs, stepped down today + after multiple women accused him of sexually harassing them during his days as the editor of several publications.

Priya Ramani, the journalist against whom Akbar has filed a defamation case, said she looked forward to the day when she would also get justice in court.


"As women, we feel vindicated by Akbar's resignation. I look forward to the day when I will also get justice in court," she said

Suparna Sharma, who also came out against Akbar, said she welcomed his resignation.

"It is a big moment for us. In a sense, I feel vindicated. Though the step should have been taken as soon as he landed in Delhi, but now, at least, there will not be a power imbalance and it will not be a fight between the government and Ramani," the resident editor of The Asian Age newspaper told PTI.

Meenal Baghel, who came out in support of Ramani, said Akbar's decision to quit was long overdue, while author Kiran Manral said they still had a long road ahead for justice.

"It was the right thing to do and we welcome it. It was long overdue," Baghel, editor of Mumbai Mirror, said in response to a question.


"A very big thanks to everyone who backed each of us," she said in a tweet.

Former journalist Tushita Patel, who also came out against Akbar, said he should drop the defamation case against Ramani.

"In the light of everything that has come out, he should drop the criminal defamation case against Ramani immediately," she told PTI.

Women rights activist Ranjana Kumari said Akbar should be ashamed that he did not resign earlier and that he was still fighting against the woman who called him out.

Activist Mariam Dhawale said it was a victory of the women's movement and Akbar's resignation was "long due".

"He should stop the terror tactics he is using to intimidate women who came out against him," Dhawale, General Secretary of the All India Democratic Women's Association, said.

She also called for a free and fair investigation into the allegations.

"Akbar must be prevented from using his political and social influence to impede a just trial and intimidate the complainants," Dhawale said.

Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal said the credit of the resignation should be given to the movement of the women who forced Akbar to step down.

"Frankly, M J Akbar should be ashamed that he did not resign sooner," Maliwal said.

National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma also welcomed the move.

Over the last fortnight, about 20 women have come forward to narrate their experiences of alleged sexual harassment at the hands of Akbar.

On Tuesday, around 19 women journalists, who have worked with 'The Asian Age' newspaper, had come out in support of their colleague Priya Ramani who has accused Akbar of sexual harassment, a joint statement issued by them had said.

Akbar was in Africa when the allegations surfaced against him.

President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted Akbar's resignation.