RNI No.2016/1957, REGD NO. SSP/LW/NP-34/2016-18 Follow us on: @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/dailypioneer instagram.com/dailypioneer/ Established 1864 OPINION 8 Published From WORLD 12 SPORT 16 DELHI LUCKNOW BHOPAL KHASHOGGI DEATH: 18 KILLED IN CRIMEA MUMBAI ENTER BHUBANESWAR RANCHI RAIPUR WORSE THAN A CRIME SHOOTOUT, DOZENS HURT VIJAY HAZARE FINAL CHANDIGARH DEHRADUN Late City Vol. 154 Issue 282 *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable LUCKNOW, THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018; PAGES 16 `3 TREAT WOMEN WITH DIGNITY:} SAIF } 14 VIVACITY www.dailypioneer.com Pressure mounts, Akbar quits Govt Defamation suit hearing to begin in Patiala House court today PNS n NEW DELHI “Since we have already while, continues to enjoy enor- filed the defamation case, we mous power and privilege as acing storm of sexual mis- will pursue it in the court,” he Minister and Member of Fconduct allegations against said. Parliament,” the statement said. women journalists in his stint Akbar on Monday had “When Ramani spoke out as editor of a newspaper, Union filed the criminal defamation against him in public, she Minister of State for External complaint against Ramani spoke not only about her per- Affairs MJ Akbar on alleging she “willfully” and sonal experience, but also lift- Wednesday resigned from the “maliciously” made imputa- ed the lid on the culture of Council of Ministers saying he tions against him with the ‘casual misogyny, entitlement was stepping down to “chal- ulterior motive of maligning his and sexual predation’ that lenge false accusations” leveled reputation and political stand- Akbar engendered and against him in his “personal ing. presided over at newspaper,” it capacity”. As Akbar took the first step said. The resignation came a of filing the legal case, 19 The Akbar versus women day before Akbar’s defamation women journalists who have journalists legal battle is set for suit against journalist Priya worked with him in the past a long haul as the cases are Ramani, who was the first came out in support of their spread over to two decades. Protesters who are opposed to allowing women of menstruating age from entering the Sabarimala temple chant devotional journalist to accuse him of sex- colleague Ramani. Ramani on Monday asserted hymns as they gather at Nilackal, a base camp on way to the mountain shrine, on Wednesday AP ual harassment around 20 years The journalists have urged that she was ready to fight the ago, is scheduled to come up the court to hear their testi- defamation complaint filed for hearing in the Patiala House 2 With the case slated for hearing on Thursday, Akbar would have monies against Akbar, claiming against her, and expressed dis- court here. found it difficult to defend himself in the court in such a sensitive that some of them suffered sex- appointment over the Akbar first tried to dig in ual harassment by the Minister Minister’s statement, saying it Violent protesters stop matter in his capacity as a Union Minister his heels, but with the allega- and others have been a witness paid no heed to the “trauma tions refusing to die down and 2 I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false to it. and fear of the survivors”. even RSS backing the woman accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity. I have, “Ramani is not alone in her “I am ready to fight the journalists, the Modi therefore, tendered my resignation..., Akbar said fight. We would request the allegations of defamation laid women's entry in temple Government had few options 2 He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and honourable court hearing the against me as truth and the but to give him marching order External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for giving him the defamation case to also con- absolute truth is my only Despite SC verdict, senior official of the Travancore 28 landmark order. to contain growing adverse opportunity to serve the country sider the testimonies of sexual defence,” she had said. Devaswom Board, the body Simmering tension pre- publicity. With the case slated 2 Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said she saluted those harassment of some of us at the The Congress termed as women fail to enter which manages the shrine. vailing in Nilackal since morn- for hearing on Thursday, Akbar women who stood on their charges against the Minister bravely hands of the petitioner, as also “victory of truth” the resigna- Vastly outnumbered, police ing erupted into raucous row- would have found it difficult to despite the “brazen” stance taken by the Government of the other signatories who tion of Union Minister MJ Sabarimala in face officials could do little to dyism as scores of activists of defend himself in the court in bore witness to this harass- Akbar following charges of enforce law and order situation fringe groups heckled women such a sensitive matter in his 2 This resignation is a vindication of the power of truth. More strength ment,” the journalists said in sexual harassment against him. of local resistance as protesters turned violent journalists of at least four capacity as a Union Minister. to India’s women, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said the joint statement under- Congress spokesperson and roughed up journalists national TV channels and van- “I deem it appropriate to signed by them. Priyanka Chaturvedi said she PNS n NILACKAL/PAMBA (KERALA) and pelted stones at the cops. dalised their vehicles. step down from office and Sushma Swaraj for giving him magistrate Samar Vishal. “What Akbar has demon- saluted those women who Women journalists were heck- National TV showed pro- challenge false accusations the opportunity to serve the The lawyer also forwarded strated through his legal actions stood on their charges against mid massive protest and led and their vehicles smashed. testers wearing black and saf- levied against me, also in a per- country. the brief resignation letter of is his refusal to introspect, the Minister bravely despite the Aviolent clashes, no woman Young female Ayyappa devo- fron turbans running after sonal capacity. I have, therefore, Akbar’s lawyer Sandeep Akbar who was associated with acknowledge or atone for his “brazen” stance taken by the from the “banned” age group tees turned back as hordes of their cars, violently pounding tendered my resignation...,” Kapur of law firm Karanjawala several media houses in the actions that have caused Government. could enter the hallowed protesters besieged the road and kicking the vehicles in a bid Akbar said. & Co said the private criminal past. immense pain and indeed “This resignation is a vin- precincts of Sabarimala temple leading to the hill-top temple, to stop them from proceeding He expressed gratitude to defamation case will come up Kapur said since the mat- harm to many women over the dication of the power of truth. when its gate opened on abode to Lord Ayyappa, its to Pamba from Nilackal on way Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hearing on Thursday before ter is subjudice, the law will years. More strength to India’s Wednesday evening for the eternally celibate deity, officials to Sabarimala. and External Affairs Minister additional chief metropolitan take its own course. “He himself, in the mean- women,” she said. first time since the Supreme said. At least 10 people from the Court allowed women of men- The protesters enjoy polit- media, including reporters and CAPSULE strual age to enter the shrine. ical backing as both the photojournalists, were injured “No girl or woman in the Congress, the main Opposition and equipment of several of age group of 10 and 50 has so party in Kerala, and the BJP, them damaged, senior Minister AMAR SINGH LODGES Pandey evades arrest, NBW issued far visited Sannidhanam (the which is desperately seeking to EP Jayarajan said. FIR AGAINST AZAM temple complex) so far,” said a expand its footprint in the Denouncing the attacks on Lucknow (PNS): Member of State, have lent support to the media, he said cases were being Rajya Sabha, Amar Singh lodged UP cops urge Ambedkarnagar admin to cancel gun licences agitation against the Supreme registered against the suspects an FIR at Gomti Nagar police Court verdict. under sections relating to non- station here against senior PNS n NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW criminal intimidation (506) and asked the hotel staff to assist. “The has since been missing. Manvendra Through the day, the road bailable offences. Samajwadi Party leader Azam using force with the intent to out- drunken girls also abused and On Wednesday, the teams leading from Nilackal, the gate- News agency PTI reported Khan on different counts, shish Pandey, the son of a rage the modesty of a woman screaming at my friend who searched for Pandey’s home and way to the shrine, to Pamba in that unfazed by the unfolding including for threatening his Aformer Bahujan Samaj Party (354). Police on Wednesday also was then assisted out of the offices in Lucknow and also joins Cong the foothills from where the violence, Madhavi, a gutsy family members. As per (BSP) MP, continued to remain recorded the statement of Gaurav washroom by the staff, he said searched homes of Pandey’s devotees start the arduous treck woman from Andhra Pradesh Gomtinagar SHO Triloki Singh, elusive on Wednesday after being Kanwar, ex-Congress MLA’s son, adding, that they went back to friends and his acquaintances in PNS n NEW DELHI/JAIPUR to Sabarimala, protesters and in her 40s, tried to climb the Amar Singh alleged in his booked by the Delhi Police for who was threatened by the son their table to finish their meal. the city. A team is also in policemen fought pitched bat- Sabarimala hills to reach the complaint that Azam Khan had brandishing a gun at a five-star of a former BSP MP at a Delhi However, we decided to leave Ambedkarnagar to know the head of Assembly elec- tles.