Top News
Akbar, a famous editor, who fell from the pedestal
New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) From his days of being an iconic editor to the alleged sexual predator — the fall of M.J. Akbar has been sudden and steep.
Caught as he was in the web of #MeToo allegations, Akbar stepped down as Minister of State for External Affairs on Wednesday.
In his chequered career, Akbar was spokesperson for both the Congress and BJP. Highly regarded for his journalistic abilities, Akbar was founder-editor of weekly magazine Sunday and The Telegraph and The Asian Age newspapers.
He commanded respect of generations of aspiring and budding journalists for his erudition, his command and crispness of language, his play of words as also his articulation. Akbar became Editor of Sunday, which turned into a successful news magazine in 1976, and of The Telegraph 1982.
All that changed as allegations started pouring in against him in the wake of #MeToo campaign alleging sexual harassment and molestation by women who had worked with him.
He joined the Congress and was a member of of the ninth Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he was Advisor to the Human Resource Development Ministry.
He returned to journalism with an aim of creating a newspaper with an international focus. He launched The Asian Age in 1994 with editions in Delhi, Mumbai and London, the first Indian newspaper to have an international edition.
In his long journalistic career, he was also associated with The Sunday Guardian and India Today magazine.
Akbar joined the BJP ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections expressing his faith in the leadership of Narendra Modi. He was first elected to Rajya Sabha in July 2015 and was re-elected in July 2016.
Akbar has authored 10 books including India: The Siege Within; Riot after Riot: Reports on Caste and Communal Violence in India; Nehru: The Making of India,1989 and Kashmir: Behind the Vale.
Akbar’s columns were widely followed and he continued writing till he became a minister in the BJP-led government in 2016.
He was given the portfolio of Minister of State for External Affairs in an apparent bid to increase Narendra Modi government’s outreach, especially to the Muslim countries.
Women, who had worked with him came up with their accounts of travails one after another in the social media.
Akbar, who was abroad when the allegations first surfaced about 10 days back, termed them as “wild, baseless and false” on his return. He also filed a defamation case against the journalist who had first levelled the charges, but the accounts against him continued to pour in.
Journalists, individually and also through their representative organisations, expressed their dismay over his decision not to quit.
The government also gave signal that Akbar has to fight his battles individually as the complaints pertained to the period when he was editor.
–IANS
ps-aks/prs
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.