Govt booklet with Akbar photo stirs row

LUCKNOW/ VARANASI: The first day of Bharatiya Pravasi Divas, which is being held in Varanasi, witnessed flutters on Monday after booklets featuring former Union minister M J Akbar, who was forced to step down amid accusations of sexual harassment during a MeToo campaign last year, were distributed among NRIs.

UP government officials said booklet was conceived and published in May 2018 when Akbar was part of the NDA cabinet.

The first page of the booklet read "Team MEA" which featured Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and junior foreign minister V K Singh apart from Akbar.

A Europe-based NRI businessman, who deals in garment merchandise and was present at the event said government should have been cautious before including his name in the booklet.

"It is a prominent annual event of the government and if such tainted ministers are still part of government's policy and planning, it is a shame," he said. A 39-year-old medico, who studies in California, said keeping in mind that Varanasi is PM's Lok Sabha seat, such decisions may dent his otherwise clean image.

Akbar, who had come under attack over allegations of misconduct by women with several opposition parties baying for his removal, also feature in photographs of several key meetings of external affairs ministry inside the booklet.

As many as 4,500 delegates from 80-plus countries are expected to turn at the ongoing 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.