Akbar resigns! A small yet significant victory! <<M J Akbar - having no whatever politcal constituency worth the name, apparently, looked too easily expendable by the BJP. It looked all too easy for it to throw him under the bus and claim high moral ground. Never mind that Yogi Adityanath, who had shared stage with a follower of his exhorting the faithful to dig out graves and rape dead Muslim women, would be rewarded with the chief ministership of the most populous state of India. (Watch: < https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/yogi-adityanaths-men-telling-hindus-to-rape-dead-muslim-women-is-beyond-shocking-230679.html >.) Never mind that as the Chief Minister he decided to drop rape charge against former BJP Union Minister Swami Chinmayananda. (Ref.: < https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-up-govt-withdraws-rape-case-against-former-union-minister-swami-chinmayanand-2603169 >.) It had looked too easy and alluring.>> (Excerpted from the introductory comment to the initiating post.)
Sukla https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/appropriate-to-step-down-mj-akbars-full-statement-1933521 "Appropriate To Step Down": MJ Akbar's Full Statement #MeToo: "Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office..." MJ Akbar said All India | NDTV News Desk | Updated: October 17, 2018 17:07 IST 'Appropriate To Step Down': MJ Akbar's Full Statement #MeToo: Junior foreign minister and former editor MJ Akbar has resigned from his post NEW DELHI: Union Minister MJ Akbar, who is facing multiple sex harassment charges, has resigned. Mr Akbar has filed a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, one of the 20 women who has accused him of sex harassment, after the #MeToo movement in India started gaining traction. Here's the full statement of MJ Akbar's resignation: View image on Twitter View image on Twitter ANI ✔ @ANI #MJAkbar resigns from his post of Minister of State External Affairs MEA. 4:47 PM - Oct 17, 2018 524 483 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity. I have, therefore, tendered my resignation from the office of Minister of State for External Affairs. I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and to the external Affair Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj for the opportunity they gave me to serve my country. Source: ANI On Wed, 17 Oct 2018 at 12:43, Sukla Sen <[email protected]> wrote: > > [20 women journalists, reportedly, as yet, have come forward to testify > against Akbar in the court. (Ref.: < > https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/metoo-metoo-india-20-women-journalists-support-priya-ramani-to-testify-against-mj-akbar-1933213 > >.) > The Network of Women in Media India along with Foundation for Media > Professionals and BrihanMumbai Union of Journalists have come out with a > strong statement, with more than a hundred signatories, demanding, inter > alia, that he (immediately) "step down from office pending investigation." > (Ref.: < > http://www.nwmindia.org/component/k2/mj-akbar-must-step-down-and-submit-to-investigation-of-charges-of-sexual-harassment > >.) > That's not a very happy situation for Akbar or Modi. > > M J Akbar - having no whatever politcal constituency worth the name, > apparently, looked too easily expendable by the BJP. > It looked all too easy for it to throw him under the bus and claim high > moral ground. > Never mind that Yogi Adityanath, who had shared stage with a follower of > his exhorting the faithful to dig out graves and rape dead Muslim women, > would be rewarded with the chief ministership of the most populous state of > India. (Watch: < > https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/yogi-adityanaths-men-telling-hindus-to-rape-dead-muslim-women-is-beyond-shocking-230679.html > >.) > Never mind that as the Chief Minister he decided to drop rape charge > against former BJP Union Minister Swami Chinmayananda. (Ref.: < > https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-up-govt-withdraws-rape-case-against-former-union-minister-swami-chinmayanand-2603169 > >.) > It had looked too easy and alluring. > > In fact, Smriti Irani, a rather mystery presence in the Union Cabinet, > said: "I think the gentleman concerned would be in a better position to > speak. I appreciate that the media is accosting his female colleagues, but > I think that it is for the gentleman concerned to issue a statement, not > for me as I was not present there ... My only appeal is that anybody who is > speaking out should in no way be shamed, victimised or mocked." (Ref.: < > https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mj-akbar-better-placed-to-speak-smriti-irani-says-on-metoo-charges-1930545 > >.) > Far more important, Amit Shah himself: <<"Dekhna padega yeh sach hai ya > galat (We have to see whether these allegations are true or false). We have > to check the veracity of the post and the person who posted it. You can > also post something using my name." But he significantly added: "Is par > zaroor sochenge (We will definitely look into the issue)." > (Ref.: < > https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/charges-against-mj-akbar-to-be-examined-amit-shah/articleshow/66188761.cms > >.) > > Yet, on Akbar's return, they decided to just brazen it out and even > intimidate the accusers. > That's, again, a bit of mystery. > > Be that as it may, if the case comes up for an early hearing and a number > of women journalists start testifying, forget about the verdict, which, in > any case, would take its time, it won't be a happy spectacle for the regime. > Pressure would mount further. > > Let's see. > > Sukla > > 《All these four years the BJP commissars were determinedly set on a > strategy of firmness, projecting the appearance of being strong and > decisive – unconcerned with critics and their carping nit-picking, indeed > refusing to grant anyone a right to judge its performance, leave alone sit > in moral judgment over manifestations of waywardness among its ranks. It > brazened out the Lalit Modi caper; it stood its ground after Vijay Mallya > and Nirav Modi cocked a snook at the Modi arrangements. And, now there is > the M.J. Akbar embarrassment. > > Yet in this essay in defiance, Akbar has offered the country a rare peep > into the closed world of political bosses, and how the react when under > siege. It is obvious that the Rafale controversy has taken a toll of their > collective judgment and verve – and, more significantly, led to a curdling > of their moral cogency. A debilitating botch-up; and, it will be noticed – > and, resented – by the middle classes, the central core of “the Modi > appeal.” > > The #MeToo movement is very much a middle class phenomenon, touching a raw > nerve among the emerging professional women workforce in India. After all, > poor women in our cities and villages do remain subjected – and, have > remained subjected all these years – to ugly rites of subordination and > exploitation. But the new professional woman refuses to put up with this > ugly reality. And perhaps, it can be suggested that the rationale of > Narendra Modi’s own ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’ campaign is anchored in the > unacceptability of that ugly reality. > > Intrinsic to the new market-created professional work space is a promise > of courtesy, respect and recognition to women employees and colleagues. The > middle classes’ aspirational world – to which the messiahs of a new India, > a gentler India, often pay tribute – is predicated on an equal deal for > women and an inherent right to a safe work place, free of predators and > free from rituals of exploitation. The middle class demand for decency in > public life hinges very much on a fair deal for women. Middle classes may > privately subscribe to all our civilisational hypocrisies, but their > greatest source of self-esteem is a pretence of moral aversion towards any > kind of ethical tawdriness in public life. > > Indeed, the women ministers in the Narendra Modi council of ministers who > applauded the courage of those who had spoken up against M.J. Akbar, were > acknowledging the sanctity of that aspiration among women, at home and at > work.》] > > > https://thewire.in/politics/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-metoo-allegations-defamation-suit > > Thank You Very Much, Mr. Akbar > The polity and its stakeholders have been given an open invitation to make > a judgement about the creeping moral indifference at the highest level. > > Thank You Very Much, Mr. Akbar > > M.J. Akbar. Credit: Facebook > > Harish Khare > > 23 HOURS AGO > > Rather than give in to a perfectly justified sense of outrage over M.J. > Akbar brazening out the #MeToo storm against him, his refusal to step down > from the ministerial perch should be lustily cheered. The Bharatiya Janata > Party establishment has just advertised to the whole wide world that it has > lost its marbles. > > Akbar’s performance on Sunday could not have been enacted without the NDA > political commissars’ imprimatur. In this defiance can be located the > Narendra Modi regime’s soft-underbelly of moral waywardness. The > bottom-line is simple: the man who once in the ’80s was a shinning secular > star has today deftly manoeuvred himself into an albatross around Modi’s > neck. > > Though M.J. Akbar is lighter than a political lightweight, it will do well > to keep in mind his symbolic centrality to the Modi project. Remember, he > was once a card-carrying Rajiv Gandhi groupie, who remained loyal to the > durbar through the thick and thin of the Bofors ignominy. But once a > political junkie, always a political junkie. Spurned by Sonia Gandhi, he > shopped around for new political patrons. His practised animosity towards > Sonia Gandhi and her family endeared him to the saffron crowd. He > effortlessly drifted into the drummer’s space in the Vajpayee inner > cheerleading orchestra. After the 2002 Gujarat riots, his presence in the > saffron choir was not without its uses. > > > > In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha battle the Narendra Modi camp was > looking for some experienced, educated, English-speaking sharp-shooters. > Akbar was around; his recruitment to the Modi roughland was not without its > symbolic usefulness. His presence in Modi’s entourage helped the new regime > acquire a semblance of middle class respectability. It probably prompted > very many from the Manmohan Singh decency constituency to cross over to the > BJP in 2014. His plummy presence lent a patina of intellectual heft to an > otherwise distinctly “B.Com” crowd (barring the honourable exception of > Subramanian Swamy) > > The same M.J. Akbar, who once helped Narendra Modi garner a mien of > respectability which, in turn, enabled the Gujarat chief minister to sell > himself as a standard-bearer of good governance and clean politics, has now > turned out to be damaged goods. Life often turns out to be unfair. > Unsavoury pasts have a way of catching up with the present. But Akbar > cannot be easily un-hugged. Only a few weeks ago he was being trotted out > to assert that there was no “Uncle Quattrocchi” in the dubious Rafale > business. > > Also read: Rafale JV Offsets Worth Rs 300 Billion Mentioned in Reliance > Group’s 2016-17 Report > > All these four years the BJP commissars were determinedly set on a > strategy of firmness, projecting the appearance of being strong and > decisive – unconcerned with critics and their carping nit-picking, indeed > refusing to grant anyone a right to judge its performance, leave alone sit > in moral judgment over manifestations of waywardness among its ranks. It > brazened out the Lalit Modi caper; it stood its ground after Vijay Mallya > and Nirav Modi cocked a snook at the Modi arrangements. And, now there is > the M.J. Akbar embarrassment. > > Yet in this essay in defiance, Akbar has offered the country a rare peep > into the closed world of political bosses, and how the react when under > siege. It is obvious that the Rafale controversy has taken a toll of their > collective judgment and verve – and, more significantly, led to a curdling > of their moral cogency. A debilitating botch-up; and, it will be noticed – > and, resented – by the middle classes, the central core of “the Modi > appeal.” > > The #MeToo movement is very much a middle class phenomenon, touching a raw > nerve among the emerging professional women workforce in India. After all, > poor women in our cities and villages do remain subjected – and, have > remained subjected all these years – to ugly rites of subordination and > exploitation. But the new professional woman refuses to put up with this > ugly reality. And perhaps, it can be suggested that the rationale of > Narendra Modi’s own ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’ campaign is anchored in the > unacceptability of that ugly reality. > > Intrinsic to the new market-created professional work space is a promise > of courtesy, respect and recognition to women employees and colleagues. The > middle classes’ aspirational world – to which the messiahs of a new India, > a gentler India, often pay tribute – is predicated on an equal deal for > women and an inherent right to a safe work place, free of predators and > free from rituals of exploitation. The middle class demand for decency in > public life hinges very much on a fair deal for women. Middle classes may > privately subscribe to all our civilisational hypocrisies, but their > greatest source of self-esteem is a pretence of moral aversion towards any > kind of ethical tawdriness in public life. > > Indeed, the women ministers in the Narendra Modi council of ministers who > applauded the courage of those who had spoken up against M.J. Akbar, were > acknowledging the sanctity of that aspiration among women, at home and at > work. > > Also read: M.J. Akbar Files for Defamation, Won’t Be Intimidated Says > Priya Ramani > > The social media storm over allegations of Akbar’s behaviour had given > Modi an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of ethical conduct, to > recover from the creeping moral precariousness of his regime. That option, > we now know, has been rejected. > > All that pretended deference to the middle classes and their demand for > decency in public life has given way to the unsentimental political > calculations of expedient back-room strategists. The middle classes, in > effect, are being told that the Modi Project has its own priorities ahead > of the 2019 Lok Sabha battle and, according to these cunning calculations > of some very unsentimental men, a minister cannot be made to resign simply > because middle class sensibilities have been offended. There is an election > to be won, and the middle classes might as well lump it. In effect, the > middle classes’ acquiescence is being sought in a certain kind of moral > shabbiness. And, that, simply will not do. > > It is just as well that the Minister of State for External Affairs has dug > his heels in and has initiated legal action. His resignation would have at > least closed the closet door on the abounding ethical infirmities and > deficiencies. His continued presence as a minister in the Modi regime will > be a daily reminder of a certain kind of moral squalidness. This > in-your-face defiance will eat into Narendra Modi’s acceptance, at home and > abroad. No society can hope to aspire for national grandeur and redemption > without a decency code. > > Harish Khare is a journalist who lives and works in Delhi. He was, until > recently, editor-in-chief of The Tribune. > > -- > Peace Is Doable > > > -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
