MJ Akbar wants to silence survivors through intimidation: Ramani on defamation case

Priya Ramani asserted that she was ready to fight the defamation complaint filed in court against her by Union minister MJ Akbar and expressed disappointment over his statement, saying it paid no heed to the "trauma and fear of the survivors".

Union minister M J Akbar (L), who is facing allegations of sexual harassment by a number of women journalists, at his residence in New Delhi, on Sunday, PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: Journalist Priya Ramani, who accused MJ Akbar of sexually harassing her, on Monday said the Union Minister was trying to silence her and other accusers through intimidation and harassment. Ramani's statement came hours after Akbar filed a defamation complaint for her sexual harassment allegations in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Ramani asserted that she was ready to fight the defamation complaint filed in court against her by Union minister MJ Akbar and expressed disappointment over his statement, saying it paid no heed to the "trauma and fear of the survivors". "I am deeply disappointed that a union minister should dismiss the detailed allegations of several women as a political conspiracy," Ramani said in a statement. "By instigating a case of criminal defamation against me, Mr Akbar has made his stand clear; rather than engage with the serious allegations that many women have made against him, he seeks to silence them through intimidation and harassment," she added. "Needless to say, I am ready to fight the allegations of defamation laid against me as truth and the absolute truth is my only defence," Ramani said. She added that those who had spoken up against Akbar had done so at great risk to their personal and professional lives. "In the case of Mr MJ Akbar, at the time these incidents occurred, the complainant women were working for him. Those who have spoken up against Mr Akbar have done so at great risk to their personal and professional lives.

My statement pic.twitter.com/1W7M2lDqPN

— Priya Ramani (@priyaramani) October 15, 2018

"At this moment, it is disingenuous to ask why they have spoken now, as we are well aware of the stigma and shame that sexual crimes inflict upon victims. Rather than cast aspersions on the intent and motives of these women, we must reflect on how to improve the workplace for future generations of men and women," Ramani said.