#MeToo impact: M J Akbar steps down amid sexual harassment allegations

The BJP finally decided it could not continue to be brazen in ignoring the allegations

M J Akbar, minister of state for external affairs who was accused by more than a dozen woman journalists of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct, caved in on Wednesday and resigned, he said, because he had filed a criminal defamation case in court against Priya Ramani, one of those who named him as a culprit. The first hearing of his complaint will come up on Thursday (October 18).

In getting him to resign three days after he filed a criminal defamation case, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) exculpated itself of charges that it was complicit in protecting Akbar against the