Akbar's resignation 'victory of truth': Congress

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The Congress Wednesday termed as "victory of truth" the resignation of Union minister M J Akbar following charges of sexual harassment against him, and asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dare to speak up now on the #MeToo movement.

Congress leader Ragini Naik accused the Modi government of being "misogynist" which "deceived" women voters who placed their faith, reposed their trust in the BJP in 2014.

"Times is up Modi ji. The silence of PM Modi on #MeToo movement is deafening," she told reporters.

"Now that M J Akbar, who has been accused by no less than 36 women of misconduct and harassment, has finally resigned, will PM Narendra Modi dare to speak up," Naik asked.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said she saluted the women who stood against Akbar bravely in spite of the "brazen" stance taken by the government.

"This resignation is a vindication of the power of truth. More strength to India's women," she said.

Akbar stepped down as junior external affairs minister Wednesday, the first high-profile head to roll in the #MeToo movement that has banded women from diverse backgrounds against a spectrum of sexual misconduct they have faced.

The 67-year-old journalist-politician's resignation as minister of state for external affairs comes a day ahead of the hearing of his criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, one of the women who accused him of sexual misconduct, at Delhi's Patiala House court.

Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev termed Akbar's stepping down as a "moral victory" for everyone and sought support for the #MeToo movement cutting across party lines.

"M J Akbar's resignation is a moral victory for everyone. The defamation case can't change that. The #MeToo movement needs support across party lines," she tweeted.

"I admire the courage of @priyaramani & all the victims who spoke out against sexual harassment & abuse. @mjakbar s resignation is a moral victory for everyone. The defamation case can't change that. The #MeToo movement needs support across party lines."