#MeToo: Maneka Gandhi breaks ranks with Modi govt, calls for an enquiry against MJ Akbar
“There must be investigation. Men in position of power often indulge in such acts,” said Maneka Gandhi, becoming the first government minister to react to allegations against Akbar.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi has called for an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs MJ Akbar, becoming the first government minister to do so.
“There must be an investigation. Men in position of power often indulge in such acts,” Maneka told a news channel, reacting to allegations levelled on the editor-turned-politician by at least two women journalists.
Maneka noted that women in India have so far been scared to speak up against such behaviour. “Now when women have gathered the courage to speak up, the allegations must be taken seriously,” she said.
Maneka, however, stopped short of calling for Akbar’s resignation.
She also reiterated her earlier stand that all sort of allegations of sexual misconduct must be investigated whenever they come to light, no matter how dated they are. “I even wrote to the Law Ministry to scrap the time frame clause in the law as far as sexual harassment allegations are concerned,” said Maneka.
So far, there hasn’t been any statement from the Prime Minister and other leading members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even as clamour for resignation of Akbar grows.
“Seriously so no code of conduct applies to central ministers in PMO India cabinet(.) How is Akbar a fit & proper person to represent India? #Metoo,” wrote a senior journalist on Twitter. The scribe was among two journalists who have accused Akbar of sexual misconduct during his time as editor of a leading English daily.
She later claimed that BJP President Amit Shah had asked all BJP spokespersons to not react on allegations against Akbar.
Amit Shah has instructed all Bjp spokies not to comment on @mjakbar #metooallegations. But how long can @PMOIndia dodge a decision? Akbar has zero base & is totally expendable. Still no action
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) October 9, 2018
The Editors Guild of India, the apex body of editorial leaders, has also demanded an investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct that are surfacing in different newsrooms, including against Akbar.
Editors Guild of India has issued a statement on the recent cases of alleged sexual harassment in the newsrooms. Please read the full text here: https://t.co/xrPM0vb2jKpic.twitter.com/vnKVzVWWik
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) October 9, 2018
Earlier in the day, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj refused to comment on accusations against Akbar at an event at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Sad to see a woman minister like @SushmaSwaraj refusing to even acknowledge a question on the serious sexual harassment allegations against @mjakbar . Well done to @Smita_Sharma for trying to get a response pic.twitter.com/rWbamLfSCr
— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) October 9, 2018
Officials at the MEA, however, confided that Akbar must speak out on the allegations.
Courtesy: www.nationalheraldindia.com
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Karnataka issues nutrition advisory for govt events; recommends millets, healthier options
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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.
The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."
The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.
Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.
According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.
It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.
If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.
In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.
It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.
The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.
It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.
“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.
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