MJ Akbar’s Presence in Operation Sindoor Delegation ‘Undermines Gender Justice’: NWMI
Moneylife Digital Team 20 May 2025
The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), has voiced strong opposition to the inclusion of former Union minister MJ Akbar in an all-party delegation visiting Europe following Operation Sindoor, calling it a 'regressive signal' that undermines India's global stance on gender justice.
 
In a public statement, NWMI said Mr Akbar’s inclusion in the delegation contradicts the spirit of Operation Sindoor which was launched on 7 May 2025 as a tribute to Indian women’s resilience after the Pahalgam terror attack left several women widowed. The operation has been projected as a mission upholding the honour and dignity of Indian women.
 
“It is deeply inappropriate to include in such a delegation a person accused by multiple women of sexual harassment, particularly when the mission is framed around dignity and justice for women,” NWMI says in its statement.
 
Mr Akbar, a former editor and minister, faced numerous allegations of sexual harassment during India’s MeToo movement in 2018, mostly from women journalists who had worked with him. At least 20 women had come forward to testify. Mr Akbar responded by filing a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, one of the first to speak out. In a landmark verdict in 2021, the court acquitted Ms Ramani, affirming that a woman has the right to speak up about sexual abuse even decades later.
 
NWMI noted that the court’s decision was widely celebrated as a turning point in India’s struggle for workplace safety and women's rights. “Mr Akbar’s inclusion now sends a disheartening message to survivors of sexual harassment—not just in journalism but across professions,” NWMI stated.
 
The delegation is reportedly being sent to engage with European partners in the wake of Operation Sindoor, which combines military strategy with a symbolic stand on women's dignity. NWMI questioned the credibility of such messaging when a person with Akbar’s record is among the official representatives.
 
“We urge the withdrawal of Mr Akbar from this delegation to ensure that India’s representatives truly reflect the values of dignity, respect, and justice for women,” the statement concluded.
Comments
badhri9984
3 weeks ago
Most unfortunate government reluctant to order for a independent inquiry on investigation agencies failures to prevent such gruesome killings of innocent tourists. Accountability of Dereliction of duty of government agencies is missing.
Meenal Mamdani
Replied to badhri9984 comment 3 weeks ago
This Prime Minister acknowledges only wins, not losses.
He never apologized for the immense dislocation caused by his demonetization in 2016 nor for the suffering of millions of workers and their families who walked thousands of miles to return home after his poorly planned lock-down of the country during COVID.
He only wants adulation and praise. What a humbug! Not a VishwaGuru but a VishwaFool.
gbrhyd
3 weeks ago
Better include more women from defence sector in the team than only politicians..
deepak.narain
3 weeks ago
What will the delegations achieve which our embassies could not? It is waste of taxpayers' money and should not be embarked upon. It is a veiled attempt by a minority govt to win over Opposition MPs.
Meenal Mamdani
Replied to deepak.narain comment 3 weeks ago
Agree.
Wish the Opposition parties had not succumbed to this obvious bribe.
Meenal Mamdani
4 weeks ago
The GoI is sending out these delegations as a PR exercise so virtue, intellectual honesty, etc are irrelevant.
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