Lawfare, Defamation – Journalists | Harassment – Journalists

Two days after minister of state for external affairs M.J. Akbar described the allegations of sexual harassment against him as lies and launched a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, 19 former and current employees of The Asian Age on Tuesday have come out in support of Ramani.

These journalists have urged Delhi’s Patiala house court, where Akbar has filed his defamation case to “consider some of their testimonies about their experiences at his hands.” By speaking up, Ramani had “lifted the lid on the culture of casual misogyny, entitlement and sexual predation” that Akbar engendered and presided over at the Asian Age, the statement said.

“What Mr Akbar has demonstrated through his legal actions is his refusal to introspect, acknowledge or atone for his actions that have caused immense pain and indeed harm to many many women over the years,” the journalists said in their statement. “He himself, in the meanwhile, continues to enjoy enormous power and privilege as minister and Member of Parliament.”

In an article published in Vogue India last year, journalist Priya Ramani had described her experience when she was interviewed by Akbar for a job interview. While Ramani had not disclosed the editor’s name when the article was published, she recently revealed on Twitter that it was Akbar, as the Indian media’s #MeToo movement gathered pace. In the article, Ramani said Akbar did not meet her in the hotel lobby and insisted that she meet him in his room.