Opposition parties on Wednesday said the resignation of Union Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar was late in coming, but saw it as a necessity in view of the complaints of sexual harassment made against him by about 20 women.

The BJP, however, called the resignation a positive step, saying a government that was “committed” to women’s empowerment would not want to get embroiled in such a controversy.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told The Hindu,“Better late than never. The BJP itself seems to have reversed its stand of obstinacy even though belatedly.”

BJP spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Meenakshi Lekhi said: “The allegations are personal and the party would not want to get embroiled, specially when the Modi government has done a lot for women’s empowerment... This is a matter of an editor and the media should also have a relook at these equations, as the allegations are by reporters.”

A salute for the women

The Congress’ Priyanka Chaturvedi, however, questioned the Prime Minister’s silence. “The resignation of M.J. Akbar is a vindication of the power of truth even if it began with one brave person speaking up,” she tweeted. “I salute these women who stood their ground despite the brazen stance of the GoI, silence of the PM who speaks of women empowerment and the misuse of power by deploying a battery of lawyers against one woman.”

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “The CPI (M) has been saying from day one that it is morally untenable for M.J. Akbar to continue as Minister.”

The CPI’s D. Raja, too, said the resignation should have come long back.

Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson and RS MP Manoj Jha said, “This is more than anybody else’s a victory of the women who spoke out through the Me Too campaign. Their voices were consistent and they did not get cowed down before intimidation by M.J. Akbar. May be that message finally reached Raisina Hill and the government feared that it could snowball into a bigger crisis.”