BJP “forgets” #MeToo: MJ Akbar’s image on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas book stirs controversy

The celebrations of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi entered choppy waters after the high-profile attendees at the event raised objections over the image of former Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs MJ Akbar being featured on the book given out to all the participants.

As the image of Akbar on the front cover of the book went viral on social media, social media reactions critical of the Ministrery of External Affairs and the BJP started to trickle in.

“By featuring MJ Akbar in the official pamphlets and booklets of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the govt has failed all those women who fought against this minister. The PM and the External Affairs minister should apologise to the women of this nation,” Prashant Kumar, a journalist wrote on Twitter.

Veteran journalist Barkha Dutt also took note of the MEA’s book, as she questioned if the #MeToo movement had been “forgiven and forgotten” by the BJP.

“Sanskari babu MJ Akbar back in the system. This shows the BJP’s mindset for women (sic),” tweeted another user.

The editor-turned-politician was forced to step down from his ministerial position last year after women from several media organisations, Akbar’s ex-colleagues, alleged sexual harassment at the hands of the BJP leader.

Under pressure to resign from the #MeToo victims, he finally quit his post in July last year.

As many as 20 women journalists have agreed to testify against Akbar in court, after a woman journalist revealed vivid details of how she had been molested by Akbar.

Being held from Jan 21 through Jan 23 in Varanasi, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a biennial event organised to commemorate the contributions of the Indian diaspora and NRIs in nation-building over the years.