Male Journalists Including Akbar’s Former Colleagues Express Support For The Survivors

After 33 women spoke up against MJ Akbar since last week, four male journalists – Akshaya Mukul, Rashid Kidwai, Kamlesh Singh and Kingshuk Nag – have finally ‘found their voice’  and come out in support of the survivors.

Independent researcher Akshaya Mukul took to Twitter and stated that he worked in Asian Age features team during 1994-95, when Akbar was the editor.

“I trust each and every word of @ghazalawahab @SuparnaSharma @writemeenal @TushitaPatel @priyaramani and endless others who might recount their harrowing experience,” he wrote.

I too worked in Asian Age features team, 1994-95. I know what many women colleagues had to go through. I trust each and every word of @ghazalawahab @SuparnaSharma @writemeenal @TushitaPatel @priyaramani and endless others who might recount their harrowing experience #MeToo https://t.co/j6m1YpVF1c

— Akshaya Mukul (@Akshayamukul) October 17, 2018

Author Rasheed Kidwai, who worked in Asian Age political bureau between 1993-96, also came in support of the accusers.

I was in #Asianage political bureau between 1993-96 & #IBelieve @ghazalawahab @SuparnaSharma @TushitaPatel @priyaramani @writemeenal and the rest #MeToo

— rasheed kidwai (@rasheedkidwai) October 16, 2018

Journalist and author Kingshuk Nag also wrote on Facebook that in around 2001, when he was working at Times Of India Ahmedabad, a ‘distraught’ young girl came to see him. “She worked in Asian Age and wanted a job with us. Why? She could not explain cogently but on making inquiries i realised that She wanted to flee AA because the Editor was coming from Delhi. On his previous visit, the Editor had ( to put It very mildly )made passes at her,” he wrote, referring to Akbar who was the editor of the Asian Age at the time.

Kamlesh Singh, a writer and an editor, tweeted that he worked at the Asian Age with several women who have accused Akbar, including Tushita Patel, Prerna Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Suparna Sharma, Ruth David and Kanika Gahlaut. He said that he believes their stories and stands with Priya Ramani who has beed sued for criminal defamation by Akbar.

I worked at the Asian Age with @TushitaPatel @prernabindra @ghazalawahab @SuparnaSharma @RuthsDavid @kanikagahlaut @kadambarim @writemeenal.
I trust them and believe every word they have said and stand with @priyaramani, who now faces the might of a minister of state. #TimesUp

— Kamlesh Singh | Bana de Lohagarh (@kamleshksingh) October 17, 2018

On Tuesday, at least twenty women journalists said that they are prepared to testify against the BJP minister in court.

“We would request the honourable court hearing the defamation case to also consider testimonies of sexual harassment of some of us at the hands of the petitioner, as also of the other signatories who bore witness to this harassment,” wrote the journalists in a statement.