Akbar's decision to step down is right: Athawale

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Wednesday termed the resignation of Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar as the "right decision" and said allegations against him should be "properly investigated".

The 67-year-old journalist-turned-politician had stepped down earlier in the day due to mounting pressure following a spate of allegations of sexual harassment against him by several women scribes, who welcomed his resignation as a "vindication".

Athawale, who is the minister of state for social justice and empowerment in the Narendra Modi government, said the opposition was also demanding Akbar's resignation.

"Opposition was demanding his resignation. The decision M J Akbar has taken is right," Athawale, whose Republican Party of India is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government said.

"The allegations levelled against him should be properly investigated," he added.

Akbar's sudden announcement to quit came a day before the court hearing of a criminal defamation complaint filed by him against Priya Ramani, a journalist who has accused him of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago.

In a brief statement, Akbar said he has decided to seek justice in a court of law in his personal capacity.