Indian Women's Press Corps slam MoS MJ Akbar for threatening legal action against those who accused him of harassment, say 'Sexual harassment at the workplace is a pervasive phenomenon'

Expressing their disappointment at the recent set of events, which saw MJ Akbar threaten legal action against those women who accused him of harassment and then following it up with a defamation case against Priya Ramani, the Indian Women's Press Corps has asked the MoS External Affairs to step down from his post in order for a fair probe to be conducted.

The group, on behalf of journalist organisations, issued a statement on this matter which read:

We the undersigned journalist organisations have been deeply concerned over the overwhelming complaints of sexual harassment in the media. We recognize that sexual harassment at the workplace is a worrisome reality and that media organisations and managements have been unable to put the systems in place which would have ordinarily addressed complaints of sexual harassment. 

We are also deeply disappointed at the statement issued by Mr M J Akbar, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs. wherein he has threatened legal action against all those who have alleged they were harassed by him. 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. In the interests of a fair probe, moral and public propriety, it would only be appropriate that the minister step down from his post till such time as the inquiry is completed. We are disappointed that Mr. Akbar did not choose to take this step instead of threatening the complainants with legal action.

An impartial probe should be conducted into all the complaints without fear of threat or intimidation to the complainants more so as the accused party is an influential minister in the present government. We also feel that in the interests of a fair probe, moral and public propriety, it is only proper and appropriate that the minister step down from his post till as such time the probe is completed.

Sexual harassment at the workplace is a pervasive phenomenon. It has continued with impunity despite the enactment of a tough law to prevent, prohibit and redress it, The inability of women to speak out about such harassment needs serious introspection and redress. We hope that employers in media organisations and the government will look into this with the seriousness it deserves and not treat the incidents as motivated complaints. 

As many as 13 women, most of them being journalists, have accused the MoS External Affairs of sexually harassing them in the past, at a time he was himself a journalist. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, all of them took to social media to narrate their ordeal, which in turn saw pressure built up on the minister to resign from his position.

But on Sunday, upon his return from Kenya, MJ Akbar, far from hinting his resignation, dismissed all the allegations against him, terming them as 'false and fabricated'. He issued a stern defence of himself through a statement.

READ: A Day After Denying Allegations Of Harassment Against Him, MoS MJ Akbar Files Defamation Case Against Journalist Priya Ramani

Later on Monday, MJ Akbar went a step further, and filed a defamation case against Priya Ramani, the first of the journalists to have spoken up against him. The minister his lawyers mentioned that the posts of Priya Ramani was written with a 'sole ulterior motive of maligning the reputation and political standing of the Complainant, in furtherance of her own vested interests and underlying agenda'.