New Delhi: The Editor’s Guild of India has issued a statement on Thursday asking #MeToo-accused MJ Akbar to withdraw the defamation case that he has filed on Priya Ramani, the first woman to name him.

Image may contain: text

The Editor’s Guild took a stand against their former president and said that they stand by the women who are fighting against Akbar. The guild offered to extend its support by appealing to lawyers to offer their services pro bono for the case.

Akbar stepped down from his post on Wednesday following a tidal wave of sexual harassment allegations levelled against him under the #MeToo movement.

Akbar had been accused by almost 20 women of sexual misconduct, something that he denied vehemently.
Even in his brief statement following the resignation, he said, "I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity. I have, therefore, tendered my resignation."

Ramani said that she feels ‘vindicated’ after the Union minister resigned from his post. However, she added that she is now awaiting justice in court.

19 former and current employees of The Asian Age on Tuesday have come out in support of Ramani and have urged the court to hear their testimonies against Akbar. Some of them claim to have suffered sexual harassment by the minister while others have been a witness to it.