After Union Minister MJ Akbar refused to resign saying all the sexual harassment allegations against him are “false, fabricated” and nothing but an “agenda”, Twitter users lost their calm and called out the Narendra Modi government for “shielding a sexual predator.”
In his statement, Akbar said, “The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. I could not reply earlier as I was on an official tour abroad. Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action.”
This is how Twitter users reacted to Akbar’s statement:
MJ Akbar won’t quit,
Because he knows that Modi won’t sack him #ModiTalksNoCanDo— Geet V (@geetv79) October 14, 2018
Dear @narendramodi — #BelieveWomen
14 women who have complained are not working to an agenda.
They are not lying #BelieveHer https://t.co/Okg7J6BZ8q— Harini Calamur (@calamur) October 14, 2018
#MJAkbar must be the first leader in the world to be accused by 14 girls of sexual harassment – yet, Modi prefers to retain him. “Beti Bachao” slogan looks so hollow & sham.
— Abdulla Madumoole (@AMadumoole) October 14, 2018
Union minister MJ Akbar’s reaction to #metoo campaign against him shows the Narendra Modi- Amit Shah dispensation never bows before pressure.
— Pragya Kaushika (@pragyakaushika) October 14, 2018
I did say BJP has a special formula for rapists to clean themselves !!
Hope 50% voters are watching this blatant obfuscation and brazen deflection. Punish them. https://t.co/jNOP8Vj6Kc
— Arvind Jha (@jalajboy) October 14, 2018
Every organisation has done better than the government of India at treating sexual harassment allegations seriously. https://t.co/j3rerUHzzF
— Supriya Sharma (@sharmasupriya) October 14, 2018
This shameless man @mjakbar is a Rajya Sabha member will not get one vote for @PMOIndia I wonder what @SushmaSwaraj his boss @nsitharaman @Manekagandhibjp will do? #metoo https://t.co/GxtqnWvBUC
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) October 14, 2018
Unbelievable..if government does not sack #MJAkbar and they have decided to brazen this out we in the media must boycott him and all of his ministry’s official events. We cannot let down the 14 women who have shown the courage to speak #metoo #SackMJAkbar https://t.co/7ljYe0GH8g
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) October 14, 2018
No @bhaiyyajispeaks , MJ Akbar didn’t resign instead he shamelessly threatened the victims of a legal action.
Also why did you delete this tweet claiming BJP to be different from Congress ? pic.twitter.com/QO2SEjfTX9
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) October 14, 2018
Wow #MJAkbar tries to brazen it out despite all the stories known to those who did not even work with him. His idea is that women should immediately give up and sit at home? They suffered the harassment -not discomfort- and soldiered on! That requires courage. He won’t get it!! https://t.co/rXszi6EERV
— Sucheta Dalal (@suchetadalal) October 14, 2018
“If I didn’t ‘do’ technical rape, where and what is the story? Conspiracy!” – MJ Akbar, journalism titan and BJP lynchpin
— Cheryl-Ann Couto (@CherylAnnCouto) October 14, 2018
BJP is making a grave mistake by shielding #MJAkbar who is facing serious allegations of sexual harassment by more than 10 journalists.
How will this Govt look in the eyes of millions of ‘Betis’?
Was ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ a farce? @narendramodi @SushmaSwaraj
— Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) October 14, 2018
“Conspiracy”. “Viral fever”. Pathetic.
— Suparna Singh (@Suparna_Singh) October 14, 2018
I wonder how over a dozen women sharing their experiences can be claimed as political conspiracy? Bigger wonder is which constituency does his stepping down impact in elections?
The only clear answer is that this government is actively protecting & promoting the sexual perverts.— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) October 14, 2018
More than 10 women are all telling lies, Mr @mjakbar ? And it’s happening because of ELECTIONS? You shame the Indian republic https://t.co/XA5gpKcSSB
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) October 14, 2018
Excuse me, Aapne kaun sa election ladna hai? You fear you will lose #GeneralElection through Rajya Sabha ? ???? This is why women don’t come out. #MeToo https://t.co/KWuuoDaDEF
— vijaita singh (@vijaita) October 14, 2018
Not surprised by Akbar/BJP brazening it out. The most consistent thing about Modi-Shah politics is, nobody is made to go under any allegations whatsoever. Those who jumped to announce Akbar resignation should’ve googled Kuldip Singh Sengar, BJP MLA in custody for rape & murder
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) October 14, 2018