Akbar's decision to step down is right: Ramdas Athawale
New Delhi, Oct 17 : 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.
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Three Bangkok flyers arrested with Rs 4.53 crore hydroponic ganja at BLR airport
Bengaluru (PTI): Three passengers who arrived from Bangkok at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Wednesday were arrested with hydroponic ganja valued at Rs 4.53 crore, officials said.
The accused, whose identities have not been disclosed, were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, they said.
In a post on X, Bengaluru Customs said it intercepted three passengers arriving from Bangkok and seized 12.96 kg of hydroponic ganja, valued at Rs 4.53 crore, concealed in their check-in baggage.
Further investigation is underway.
