In the year 2018, when the #MeToo movement was at its peak in India, Priya Ramani along with 20 other journalists had accused MJ Akbar, journalist and former Union Minister, of sexual misconduct. MJ Akbar went on to file a defamation case against Ramani and in February this year, he lost the case.
MJ Akbar had resigned as the Minister of State for External Affairs in 2018 following the sexual harassment accusations against him. However, he has returned to the newsroom and has joined WION, a TV channel run by Zee Media, reports Yahoo!.
According to the report, several employees have revealed that MJ Akbar has been attending editorial meetings. This news of him returning to work despite #MeToo allegations has sparked a controversy online. Many expressed how society finds a way to reward “powerful men” while “suppressing” the voices of wronged women.
Creating a safe space for workers is a primary responsibility of any employer. Any workspace where MJ Akbar is present is not safe for women, especially young women.
— Pallavi Gogoi (@pgogoi) August 18, 2021
By having Akbar in its newsroom, the news organization has just tuned out the voices of courage and of those who have bravely spoken out – the victims of sexual assault.
— Pallavi Gogoi (@pgogoi) August 18, 2021
Let me give you a quick update of what happened since over 20 women named MJ Akbar as their assaulter – He pick and chose Priya Ramani, filed a defamation and LOST IT.
He is a KNOWN predator – what did MJA lose?
NOTHING.— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) August 19, 2021
MJ Akbar, the man accused of sexual harassment in a newsroom by MANY female journalists is back in a new newsroom?
Can’t wrap my head around this.
What do we do about a society that places sexual predators back in positions of power instead of punishing them #MeTooIndia
— Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) August 19, 2021
Imagine working with a known predator, accused by many (20) in your own fraternity of sexual harassment.
He had to resign from the Modi govt as the allegations were overwhelming. He even fought and lost a case against Priya Ramani.
#MJAkbar #Zee #MeToo https://t.co/itgqusgk85— Gargi Rawat (@GargiRawat) August 19, 2021
Love how MJ Akbar's career and image are suffering due to the #metoo allegations.
NOT.— Aatreyee (@aatreyee2) August 20, 2021
Shocking. Shameless bunch, all.
Who was talking about cancel culture and how that affected lives of men, come again? #MeToo #MJAkbar https://t.co/OIbSZYpNAU
— Smruti 🇮🇳 (@smrutibombay) August 19, 2021
Not one man's life or career has been "ruined" *by the* #Metoo in India
All high profile cases: Gogoi, Sawant, this creep ended with the men finding gainful employment & sympathy for a system that is designed to defend its rape culture. #India https://t.co/d1VGVCsDKx
— Vidya (@VidyaKrishnan) August 19, 2021
This is no longer shocking…. The system always finds a way to reward powerful men accused of sexual harassment…. In this case by over 20 women.
Almost everyone accused during the movement is back to earning big bucks. https://t.co/5ryE4cPvWp— 💀 🇵🇸🏳️🌈 (@SANDIPANMITRA6) August 19, 2021
I am exhausted. These patriarchal systems that attempt to erase women’s voices and experiences are exhausting. https://t.co/PvaOS1iRQS
— Christine Marrewa-Karwoski (@CMarrewa) August 19, 2021
What do you think of this incident? Tell us.