M J Akbar dubs #MeToo allegations as false, baseless

Union Minister M J Akbar on Sunday virtually ruled out resigning from the Union government and dubbed allegations of sexual misconduct against him as “false and baseless” that has caused irreparable damage to his reputation and goodwill.

“Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action,” said Akbar, the Minister of State for External Affairs, who returned from an official tour of African nations on Sunday.

He also questioned the timing of the allegations and linked it with the upcoming general elections next year.

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“Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge. These false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill,” Akbar said.

“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,” said Akbar, the editor-turned-politician.

M J Akbar's Complete Statement