Congress President Rahul Gandhi finally broke his silence on India’s #MeToo movement and extended support to the same today. Rahul Gandhi tweeted saying that everyone needs to learn to treat women with respect and dignity.
He tweeted, “It’s about time everyone learns to treat women with respect and dignity.” He further appreciated that those who don’t respect women’s dignity are being named. He added, “I’m glad the space for those who don’t, is closing. The truth needs to be told loud and clear in order to bring about change.”
On Wednesday, the Congress party demanded an explanation from MoS external affairs MJ Akbar on the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him as part of the raging #MeToo movement or step down from the position.
It’s about time everyone learns to treat women with respect and dignity.
I’m glad the space for those who don't, is closing. The truth needs to be told loud and clear in order to bring about change. #MeToo
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 12, 2018
Giving the example of Brett Kavanaugh, American Supreme Court nominee who was accused of sexually harassing the survivor Christine Blasey Ford- the case which saw a resurgence of the #MeToo campaign in the United States, Congress leader Jaipal Reddy said MJ Akbar should come forward with a ‘satisfactory explanation’. He said, “If Justice Kavanaugh can be asked for an explanation, then why not MJ Akbar, who allegedly did whatever he did much later in his life than Kavanaugh.” He added, “MJ Akbar has the stature of being a veteran journalist in addition to being junior External Affairs Minister. Sushma Swaraj could not comment on her own subordinate. We demand an inquiry into the allegations.”
The veteran journalist turned politician MJ Akbar was accused of sexual harassment by as many as nine women professionals so far. These survivors’ accounts paint a stomach-churning pattern to his sexual abuse – set up job interviews with aspiring women journalists in hotel rooms, repeatedly call them to his office cabin for meaningless conversation and chatter, entice them with major stories, send them out of the workplace and meet them at a hotel at odd hours.
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