#MeToo: Women journalists write to Union Home Minister, demands action against MJ Akbar 

A panel of female journalists has written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment levelled by several women journalists against Union Minister MJ Akbar. The Union minister has been accused of sexual harassment by at least 16 women in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

“We are deeply dismayed that despite the long list of complaints involving the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, no formal inquiry into the complaints comprising of serious charges of sexual harassment has been instituted at any level in the government. Rather, motives have been attributed to the complainants.”

“In the light of such shocking allegations, we hope that your government will rise to the occasion and institute an impartial and fair inquiry into the process in the interests of gender justice. In addition to the investigation into the specific allegations against a Minister, the Government must also examine whether media organizations have put in place effective institutional mechanisms for dealing with sexual harassment as required by the law,” read the letter.

“We very strongly feel that the continuation of the minister in his position only sends out the wrong message that the Government is apathetic to these serious concerns and the need for a fair and impartial inquiry.”

The panel of journalist has also written a letter to chairperson of National Commission of Women and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi demanding inquiry against MJ Akbar.