New Delhi: In the growing controversy surrounding former editor-turned-politician MJ Akbar, a US based journalist has come forward with her story accusing the minister of raping her almost two decades ago. Responding to the allegations against him, Akbar has dismissed them as being false with his lawyer speaking to the Washington Post which had previously published a first-person account of the accuser Pallavi Gogoi, an editor at the National Public Radio (NPR).
Pallavi recounted the events by stating that Akbar was a brilliant journalist when he was the Editor-in Chief at The Asian Age and that he had used his higher position to prey on her. She also recounted that she had fallen pretty easily as she was a 22-year-old starstruck journalist when she had joined the organisation.
She also stated that she felt that she had to speak out regarding the matter when she saw scores of women making allegations of sexual harassment against Akbar.
Amidst the MeToo allegations, Akbar has had to resign from the Union Cabinet.
She said that she was very impressed with his hold on the English language and took all the verbal abuse he used to dish at her ads she thought she was learning from the best. When she was 23 she was made the editor of the op-ed page but she recounts that she had to pay a very steep price to get that position as when she was congratulated by Akbar, she recounts he lunged at her and kissed her. After the incident, she felt confused, ashamed and destroyed.
She also said that after this there was a second incident when she was called to Mumbai to launch a magazine.
There she was called to Akbar’s private room in the Taj hotel where he again tried to kiss her. After her return to Delhi, a very livid Akbar told her that if she were to speak out about the incident she would be fired from her job.
She said that in the hotel room, even if she tried to resist him, he was a lot stronger and he tore her clothes and raped her.
After this, she felt even more helpless as Akbar’s grip on her increased and he used to continuously defile her for months on and verbally and emotionally torment her.
