US-based NPR Journalist Pallavi Gogoi had accused former MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar of raping her when she was working as an Op-Ed page editor at the Asian Age.
Washington| Former Asian Age journalist who had accused former minister MJ Akbar of raping her has rejected the claim that it was a “consensual relationship”. In a statement released by her, Gogoi said clarified that a relationship based on “coercion and abuse of power” is not consensual.
Earlier, MJ Akbar in his statement refuted the allegations saying that both were in a “consensual” relationship. Akbar, in his statement, said, “Somewhere around 1994, Ms Pallavi Gogoi and I entered into a consensual relationship that spanned several months”. He said that he ended the relationship after it led to turmoil in his family life. “This relationship (with Gogoi) gave rise to talk and would later cause significant strife in my home life as well. This consensual relationship ended, perhaps not on the best note,” Akbar said.
My statement: pic.twitter.com/7xoADdIHoX
— Pallavi Gogoi (@pgogoi) November 2, 2018
Mallika Akbar-wife of MJ Akbar had also released a statement on the issue. In the separate statement, she said that Pallavi Gogoi and MJ Akbar’s relation caused “unhappiness & discord in our home”. She further added, “I had confronted my husband at the time and he decided to prioritize his family.” Talking to a news agency, she said that Gogoi is telling a lie. “I don’t know Pallavi’s reasons for telling this lie, but a lie it is,” said the statement. Gogoi, however, maintained that she stands by every word in her published account in The Washington Post.
I don't know Pallavi's reasons for telling this lie, but a lie it is: MJ Akbar's wife Mallika to ANI on journalist Pallavi Gogoi's allegations in the Washington Post against MJ Akbar
— HW News English (@HWNewsEnglish) November 2, 2018
Earlier, in a Washington Post article, US-based NPR Journalist Pallavi Gogoi had accused former MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar of raping her when she was working as an Op-Ed page editor at the Asian Age. In a gut-wrenching account, Gogoi had stated that MJ Akbar would defile her sexually, verbally, emotionally.
Former Journalist MJ Akbar was accused of sexual harassment by various female journalists in the ongoing #MeToo campaign during his tenure as Editor of various newspapers. Journalist Priya Ramani had alleged that Akbar during his tenure as an Editor of a newspaper made her feel uncomfortable and harassed her in a hotel room.
After Ramani’s allegations various female journalists including Prerna Singh Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Shutapa Paul, Anju Bharti, Suparna Sharma, Shuma Raha, Malini Bhupta, Kanika Gahlout, Kadambari M Wade, Majlie de Puy Kamp and Ruth David spoke against Akbar.
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