Front Page
M J Akbar is once again all over the front pages of news dailies. Ahead of his first appearance in the court Thursday for the defamation suit he has filed against journalist Priya Ramani, Akbar resigned as the Union Minister of State for External Affairs.
The Indian Express writes on its front page, “M J Akbar exits the workplace”.
Welcoming the resignation, Ramani wrote on Twitter, “As women we feel vindicated by MJ Akbar’s resignation. I look forward to the day when I will also get justice in court #metoo.” More than twenty current and former journalists have come out with their stories of harassment against Akbar when he was their editor.
The Asian Age, the daily Akbar started and where most of the alleged harassment took place, reports the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership was getting uneasy over the barrage of accusations.
In an editorial titled ‘October 17’, The Indian Express writes, “Make no mistake, the resignation of Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar nearly 10 days after he was first named on social media by a woman journalist as a sexual predator, is a watershed moment.”
In his column in The Indian Express, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav appreciates the courage shown by the women. He writes, “In a predominantly conservative setting like that of our society, these acts are no mean feats. If not for any other reason, these women need the support of society at large because they have mustered the courage to speak up.” Madhav also expresses hope that workplaces will become more safe and conducive for women, without explaining how Akbar’s continuance in BJP will make the party more safe for women.
Despite orders from the Supreme Court, women couldn’t enter Sabarimala temple Wednesday when it opened for prayers. The Times of India writes on its front page, “SC writ fails in Sabarimala as protesters block women”.
Hindustan Times has made it the lead story on their front page, writing “Sabarimala opens gates but women not welcome”.
The protesters did not spare the women journalists who were assigned to cover the situation. Hindustan Times reports the story on its front page.
In a landmark verdict last month, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court allowed the women of all ages to visit the temple. Earlier, women in the 10-50 age bracket were denied entry in the 800-year old temple in Kerala. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday assured reformers that the state government won’t file a review petition in the top court.
In its editorial Thursday, The Times of India reminds the state government of its responsibility to ensure the implementation of the order, writing, “Sabarimala for all: SC allowed women to enter, now Kerala government must uphold law and order.”
Prime Time
Will MJ Akbar’s resignation end his political career?
India Today anchor Preeti Choudhry debated the political future of MJ Akbar, who resigned as Union Minister of State for External Affairs Wednesday. During the show, journalist Saba Naqvi said BJP has made an error by allowing Akbar to use their political platform, while journalist Rashmi Das said Akbar hasn’t resigned under any kind of pressure.
Naqvi said, “BJP made an error by allowing Akbar a platform to do something which is morally incorrect by allowing him to use the position of a Union Minister to comment against women.”
Das said, “It is a very, very cautious decision and has not been taken due to any kind of pressure.”
The significance of MJ Akbar’s resignation
Aaj Tak anchor Anjana Om Kashyap debated what the resignation of Akbar means for the larger gender and workplace discourse. During the show, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said Akbar’s resignation is a victory for women, while BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the resignation should not be seen as a political issue.
Chaturvedi said, “This is not a political victory, this is the victory of the entire women population. I can say that M.J. Akbar’s resignation can be seen as the victory for those women against whom sexual harassment was done.”
Patra said, “I completely agree with what Priyanka Chaturvedi has to say, this is not a political issue and I am happy that women raised this issue.”
News it’s kinda cool to know
A new study suggests 98 per cent fewer insects are found in the Luquillo rainforest on the islands of Puerto Rico since the 1970s, reports DownToEarth.
The research paper was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The scientists used a measurement of insect biomass in milligrams to estimate the change in a number of these organisms in the recovered samples from the forest floor.