[What Made Akbar Resign in a Sudden U-turn? That there'll be an early hearing of the case, on Oct. 18 - today itself, perhaps provides the clue to the eventual resignation when read together with the public declaration of 20 women journalists to testify. The prospect of the public spectacle of one woman journalist after another testifying against a sitting minister has, most likely, proved too unsettling even for this too insensitive regime. That's, most likely, how the initial decision to brazen it out and intimidate, now, stands reversed.
Relevant in this context is an earlier observation by this observer: <<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. ... 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.>> (Ref.: <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/greenyouth/YlyFbljaNd0>.)] https://www.firstpost.com/india/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-criminal-defamation-case-to-be-heard-on-18-october-thursday-mea-junior-minister-set-to-record-statement-5385531.html MJ Akbar-Priya Ramani criminal defamation case to be heard on 18 October; MEA junior minister set to record statement India FP Staff Oct 16, 2018 11:16:40 IST Tweet The hearing of the private criminal defamation case filed by Union minister MJ Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani is not listed for hearing at Delhi's Patiala House Court on Tuesday, but will be heard in the court on Thursday, 18 October, at 2 pm. Akbar filed the criminal defamation case against Ramani after she accused the former Asian Age editor of sexual harassment. The junior minister of foreign affairs will have to be present at the court for the hearing, reports said. He will stand in the witness box to record his statement before the court, CNN-News18 reported. The Minister of State for External Affairs has accused Ramani — who had recently levelled charges of sexual misconduct against him as the #MeToo campaign raged in India — of "willfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously" defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation. "The complainant (Akbar) also had a long career in journalism, he launched India's first weekly political news magazine...," the complaint said and listed out defamatory imputations made by Ramani on social media against him. Whilst it is apparent that the accused has resorted to a series of maliciously serious allegations which she is diabolically and viciously spreading in media, it is also apparent that false narrative against the complainant (Akbar) is being circulated in a motivated manner for the fulfilment of an agenda, the complaint said. File image of MJ Akbar. Image courtesy: Twitter/@mjakbarFile image of MJ Akbar. Image courtesy: Twitter/@mjakbar It termed as "scandalous" the allegations made by Ramani against Akbar and said "very tone and tenor" are ex-facie defamatory and they have not only damaged his goodwill and reputation in his social circle but also affected Akbar's reputation in the community and friends, family and colleagues and caused irreparable loss and tremendous distress. The complaint, filed through advocate Sandeep Kapur, seeks issuance of notice to Ramani under Section 499 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 500 of the IPC provides that an accused may be awarded two years jail term or fine or both in the event of conviction. Hours after returning from a trip to Africa, Akbar had termed allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by several women as "false, fabricated and deeply distressing" and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them. Akbar's name cropped up on social media when he was in Nigeria. The women, who accused Akbar of sexual harassment, included Priya Ramani, Ghazala Wahab, Shuma Raha, Anju Bharti and Shutapa Paul. With inputs from PTI Updated Date: Oct 16, 2018 11:16 AM -- 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. 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