Harassment
Women have shown courage, Akbar should show ‘grace’ and withdraw defamation case, says Editors’ Guild
The Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Thursday said the resignation of union minister MJ Akbar is a ‘result of several women journalists’ courage to fight for a high principle—gender equality in the newsroom.’
Editors Guild of India has issued a statement on MJ Akbar issue. Read the full text here https://t.co/xrPM0vb2jK pic.twitter.com/PDywGz8A5j
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) October 18, 2018
In a statement, EGI said it saluted the courage shown by several women journalists in bringing to light instances of how they were sexually harassed.ALSO READ: 20 women come forward against M J Akbar, say ‘ready to testify in court’
Former Union Minister MJ Akbar, who resigned after several women journalist accused him of sexually harassing them, has filed a defamation case against one of them. The Guild in their statement have said that women have shown courage and Akbar, who has been the former President of the Guild should display grace and withdraw the case.
“We hope that Mr Akbar will also display the grace to withdraw the criminal defamation case he has filed against one of these complainants. While Mr Akbar is entitled to all legal instruments available to a citizen to seek vindication, it would be paradoxical for a veteran editor to employ the instrument of criminal defamation. More so for Mr Akbar who happens to be a former president of the Guild,” the EGI statement said.
While denying all the allegations, Akbar in his statement had said that allegations against him are ‘false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice.’
ALSO READ: ‘BJP ke Mantri se Beti Bachao’, says Rahul Gandhi on sexual harassment allegations against Akbar
