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Magazine for Govt Event Calls MJ Akbar ‘Minister’, Sparks Row

Akbar had stepped down as Union minister after several women accused him of sexual misconduct.

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Politics
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A magazine of an event organised by the central government features MJ Akbar on its cover, months after the Union minister stepped down amid allegations of sexual harassment by multiple women.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ official magazine features Akbar, the former minister of state for external affairs, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

In the booklet, Akbar’s designation is given as ‘minister of state’. His name has also been included in the event’s posters.

Akbar had stepped down as Union minister after several women accused him of sexual misconduct.
The cover of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ official magazine.
(Photo: Twitter/@BDUTT)

The magazine has been distributed to every member of the delegation at the event, raising questions over his role in the ministry. Journalist Barkha Dutt took to Twitter on Monday, 21 January, to slam the move. “Is #MeToo forgiven and forgotten by BJP,” she asked.

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The event, held every two years to strengthen engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Indian government, is being held in Varanasi from 21-23 January.

PM Modi is scheduled to attend the event on Tuesday, 22 January.

MEA Sources Say It Has Nothing to Do with Pravasi Bharatiya

MEA sources in the ministry, speaking to PTI, said Akbar is not at all associated with the event, and that the booklet was published in May last year, months before he quit as minister.

The booklet highlighted achievements of the MEA in the last four years and all the ministers in the MEA featured in it.

“The booklet was published months before Akbar quit as a minister. An unnecessary controversy is being created, which is very unfortunate. The booklet only mentions achievements of the ministry.” 
MEA Official to PTI
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Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Akbar

A number of women journalists had accused Akbar of sexually harassing them while he was working as the editor of a newspaper.

The journalists had given detailed accounts of Akbar allegedly violating consent and conducting interviews in hotel rooms. Following this, Akbar had resigned from his position on 17 October 2018.

Akbar has denied all allegations against him, and slapped a defamation case against a journalist who had accused him of sexual misconduct.

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Topics:  Narendra Modi   BJP   Sushma Swaraj 

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