#MeToo: Women journalists responded to MJ Akbar’s statement; says, ‘stand by accusations, will fight’

As Union Minister M J Akbar rejected the allegation of sexual harassment leveled against him in the #MeToo movement, those women journalists who leveled allegations said that they had stood by their statements.

“I stand by my testimony of the two incidents — one in which he plucked my bra strap, and the other when he stared at my breasts. I also stand by the fact that he did the same with other women in the office. I am disappointed with Akbar’s response but I am not surprised. This is going to be a longish battle, and the next step in many cases is a legal step,” said Suparna Sharma was quoted by The Indian Express, Resident Editor.

Denying the allegations of sexual misconduct, Akbar in his statement said that he is considering ‘future course of legal action’ on ‘these wild and baseless allegation’.

Akbar questioned that why this storm has risen a few months before a general election? New York-based journalist Majlie de Puy Kamp said “I am not a citizen, I cannot vote. I do not have a political agenda. Plus, I have a paper trail. My father wrote an email to Akbar about the incident to which he responded. I have evidence. I am disappointed but not surprised by his statement. I am, however, very comfortable with my story.”

Akbar was accused by Puy Kamp of kissing her forcibly when she was interning at The Asian age in 2007.