The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), protested the inclusion of ex-minister and journalist MJ Akbar in the all-party delegation for international talks on the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Multiple women, including several journalists, have accused Akbar of sexual harassment. The Network, in a statement, said that the inclusion of a person with such a history in the delegation undermines the values India seeks to project to the world.
Here is the NWMI's full statement:
The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) protests the inclusion of MJ Akbar in the all-party delegation for international engagement in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor launched on 7 May 2025. MJ Akbar has been accused by multiple women, most of them journalists, of sexual harassment. We believe his presence in the delegation undermines the values India seeks to project abroad.
Operation Sindoor has been pitched as a mission to protect the honour and dignity of Indian women. It was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025, which left several women widowed. The Operation was presented not only as a military response but as a tribute to the resilience of Indian women. In light of this framing, the inclusion in such a delegation of a figure like MJ Akbar, with a history of serious allegations of sexual harassment, risks sending a regressive signal to survivors of sexual harassment and diminishes India’s credibility on issues of gender justice.
Many women journalists who said they had been subjected to predatory behaviour, sexual harassment and/or assault by MJ Akbar over the years, spoke out during India’s #MeToo movement around 2018, with at least 20 women ready to testify against him. These allegations are detailed, and have been widely reported and acknowledged, with Akbar losing a defamation case he filed against one of his accusers. The court’s verdict in that case in February 2021 was hailed as a landmark for women’s rights and workplace safety in India.
We urge the withdrawal of MJ Akbar from this delegation, to ensure that India’s representatives truly reflect the values of dignity, respect, and justice for women.
The Network of Women in Media, India
18 May 2025