BJP president Amit Shah speaks on MeToo, says will look into allegations against MJ Akbar

After days of silence, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah has finally spoken on the allegations of sexual harassment against Union minister MJ Akbar.

Speaking to a local channel Shah reportedly said the party will have to verify the authenticity of the allegations against Akbar. "Dekhna padega ki yeh sach hai ya galat (We will have to see if the allegations are true or false)," Shah said.

Under the ongoing #MeToo movement, many women journalists have leveled sexual harassment against Akbar. Ever since these charges became public, the demand for Akbar’s resignation has grown.

Amit Shah also said, "We have to check the veracity of the post and the person who posted it. You can also post something using my name. We will definitely look into the issue."

Akbar, a former journalist, faces serious allegations of sexual harassment. The allegations have been made by a



number of women journalists, who have come forward as part of the #MeToo campaign that has raging on the social media.

The accounts are from a time when Akbar held senior editorial positions in media firms. The women have described how Akbar used to conduct meetings and interviews in hotel rooms and exhibit "predatory" behaviour.

Meanwhile, sources have told that the government will ask Akbar to step down as the Minister of State for External Affairs once he returns from Africa.

At least one woman has accused Akbar of molesting her. Akbar was her editor when he allegedly molested her in his office cabin.

Akbar or his Ministry of External Affairs office have not commented on the allegations against him despite multiple media inquires. His boss, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too has been silent on the issue and recently sidestepped pointed questions by journalists in New Delhi.