<p>A new NCERT book of social science for Class 8 describes Mughal ruler Aurangzeb as the one who banned "un-Islamic" practices in India and Akbar as a blend of "brutality" and “tolerance”. The book, which is&nbsp;likely&nbsp;to be introduced in the curriculum in the 2025-2026 academic year,&nbsp;marks a shift in tone in its portrayal of the Mughal emperors. The book calls Babur "a&nbsp;Turkic Mongol ruler and military strategist," who defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526. It says his son, Humayun, lost the empire briefly to Sher Shah Suri.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The book says Akbar, who ascended&nbsp;the throne aged just 13, consolidated the empire. The Mughal ruler was a blend of brutality and tolerance, and was shaped by ambition and strategy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It noted that during the siege of Chittorgarh in 1568, Akbar ordered the massacre of some 30,000 civilians and the enslavement of surviving women and children. He, the book says, commented after the slaughter: “We have succeeded in occupying several forts and towns belonging to the infidels and have established Islam there... With the help of our bloodthirsty sword, we have erased the signs of infidelity from their minds and have destroyed temples in those places and also all over Hindustan.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It further said that&nbsp;Akbar abolished the jizya, welcomed Rajput nobles to his court, and promoted sulh-i-kul - or "peace with all". He established a translation bureau at Fatehpur Sikri and commissioned the Persian translations of the Mahabharata (Razmnama), Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, and Panchatantra.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Under Aurangzeb, the book said, the&nbsp;Mughal empire grew leaps and bounds but was marred by&nbsp;religious orthodoxy and policies.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“He gradually banned practices he regarded as un-Islamic, such as music and dance in his court, and reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims as well as a pilgrimage tax on Hindus travelling to their sacred places (both of which had been abolished by Akbar).”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It said temples were destroyed in Banaras, Mathura, and Somnat, and the adherents of Jain, Sikh, and Sufi ideologies were persecuted.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The NCERT has defended the inclusion of such details.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"While those happenings cannot be erased or denied, it would be wrong to hold anyone today responsible for them... Understanding the historical origin of cruel violence, abusive misrule, or misplaced ambitions of power is the best way to heal the past and build a future where, hopefully, they will have no place," it said.</p>

A new NCERT book of social science for Class 8 describes Mughal ruler Aurangzeb as the one who banned "un-Islamic" practices in India and Akbar as a blend of "brutality" and “tolerance”.

A new NCERT book of social science for Class 8 describes Mughal ruler Aurangzeb as the one who banned "un-Islamic" practices in India and Akbar as a blend of "brutality" and “tolerance”. The book, which is likely to be introduced in the curriculum in the 2025-2026 academic year, marks a shift in tone in its portrayal of the Mughal emperors. The book calls Babur "a Turkic Mongol ruler and military strategist," who defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526. It says his son, Humayun, lost the empire briefly to Sher Shah Suri. The book says Akbar, who ascended the throne aged just 13, consolidated the empire. The Mughal ruler was a blend of brutality and tolerance, and was shaped by ambition and strategy. It noted that during the siege of Chittorgarh in 1568, Akbar ordered the massacre of some 30,000 civilians and the enslavement of surviving women and children. He, the book says, commented after the slaughter: “We have succeeded in occupying several forts and towns belonging to the infidels and have established Islam there... With the help of our bloodthirsty sword, we have erased the signs of infidelity from their minds and have destroyed temples in those places and also all over Hindustan.” It further said that Akbar abolished the jizya, welcomed Rajput nobles to his court, and promoted sulh-i-kul - or "peace with all". He established a translation bureau at Fatehpur Sikri and commissioned the Persian translations of the Mahabharata (Razmnama), Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, and Panchatantra. Under Aurangzeb, the book said, the Mughal empire grew leaps and bounds but was marred by religious orthodoxy and policies. “He gradually banned practices he regarded as un-Islamic, such as music and dance in his court, and reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims as well as a pilgrimage tax on Hindus travelling to their sacred places (both of which had been abolished by Akbar).” It said temples were destroyed in Banaras, Mathura, and Somnat, and the adherents of Jain, Sikh, and Sufi ideologies were persecuted. The NCERT has defended the inclusion of such details. "While those happenings cannot be erased or denied, it would be wrong to hold anyone today responsible for them... Understanding the historical origin of cruel violence, abusive misrule, or misplaced ambitions of power is the best way to heal the past and build a future where, hopefully, they will have no place," it said.

<p>New NCERT book: Under Aurangzeb, the&nbsp;Mughal empire was marred by&nbsp;religious orthodoxy and policies.</p>

'Killed 30000 in Chittorgarh, brutal': How new NCERT book describes Akbar

<p lang="en-US">The government in the Indian state of West Bengal was instructed by the Calcutta High Court to rename the lions&nbsp;who have been named "Akbar" and "Sita” after the names caused a controversy. Both the lions were kept in the same enclosure at the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri.<br />
<br />
A petition was filed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the court for changing the name of the lioness after she was recently shifted to West Bengal from Tripura, as per a report published in Live Law.<br />
<br />
The single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, giving an oral direction, asked the state to think about renaming the animals and avoid controversy.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/court-will-decide-who-is-butter-chickens-daddy-but-india-is-surely-the-guru-of-its-globalisation-692776">Court will decide who is Butter Chicken’s daddy, but India is surely the guru of its globalisation</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">"Will you name a lion after a Hindu deity, a Muslim prophet or Christian god or freedom fighter or nobel laureate? Generally anyone who is revered or respected by the people of our country?" Justice Bhattacharyya quipped.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>West Bengal considering renaming lions: AAG</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The Additional Advocate General (AAG), who was representing the case from the West Bengal government's side, said that the lions were given the names in Tripura and the state has already been considering renaming the lions.<br />
<br />
The High Court further questioned the reason behind the naming of the lion after "a god, mythological hero, freedom fighter, or Nobel laureate" and questioned why the state did not use&nbsp;the names which were given by Tripura.<br />
<br />
"You are a welfare state and it is a secular state. Why should you draw controversy by naming a lion after Sita and Akbar? This controversy should have been avoided. Not only Sita, but I also don't support the naming of a lion Akbar. He was a very efficient and noble Mughal emperor. Very successful and secular Mughal emperor. If it is already named, the state authority should shun it and avoid it," Justice Bhattacharyya said.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India's Gaganyaan mission: ISRO completes human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-gaganyaan-mission-isro-completes-human-rating-of-its-ce20-cryogenic-engine-692943/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">In the court hearing, Justice Bhattacharyya further questioned if the AAG had any pets who were named after "national heroes".<br />
<br />
As per the court's direction, the petition filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad will be reclassified as a public interest litigation (PIL) and redirected to a regular bench which can hear PILs.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The government in the Indian state of West Bengal was instructed by the Calcutta High Court to rename the lions who have been named "Akbar" and "Sita” after the names caused a controversy.

The government in the Indian state of West Bengal was instructed by the Calcutta High Court to rename the lions who have been named "Akbar" and "Sita” after the names caused a controversy. Both the lions were kept in the same enclosure at the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri. A petition was filed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the court for changing the name of the lioness after she was recently shifted to West Bengal from Tripura, as per a report published in Live Law. The single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, giving an oral direction, asked the state to think about renaming the animals and avoid controversy. Also Read: Court will decide who is Butter Chicken’s daddy, but India is surely the guru of its globalisation "Will you name a lion after a Hindu deity, a Muslim prophet or Christian god or freedom fighter or nobel laureate? Generally anyone who is revered or respected by the people of our country?" Justice Bhattacharyya quipped. West Bengal considering renaming lions: AAG The Additional Advocate General (AAG), who was representing the case from the West Bengal government's side, said that the lions were given the names in Tripura and the state has already been considering renaming the lions. The High Court further questioned the reason behind the naming of the lion after "a god, mythological hero, freedom fighter, or Nobel laureate" and questioned why the state did not use the names which were given by Tripura. "You are a welfare state and it is a secular state. Why should you draw controversy by naming a lion after Sita and Akbar? This controversy should have been avoided. Not only Sita, but I also don't support the naming of a lion Akbar. He was a very efficient and noble Mughal emperor. Very successful and secular Mughal emperor. If it is already named, the state authority should shun it and avoid it," Justice Bhattacharyya said. Watch: India's Gaganyaan mission: ISRO completes human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine In the court hearing, Justice Bhattacharyya further questioned if the AAG had any pets who were named after "national heroes". As per the court's direction, the petition filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad will be reclassified as a public interest litigation (PIL) and redirected to a regular bench which can hear PILs. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian court raps West Bengal govt over naming lions 'Akbar, Sita'

<p>Naseeruddin Shah will soon be seen playing Mughal Emperor Akbar in new web series called <em>Taj: Divided By Blood.</em> The veteran Indian actor, while promoting his new show, recently stated that his understanding of Emperor Akbar changed after working on the show. Shah stated that a common misconception about the Emperor was that he wanted to start his own religion: Din-e-Elahi. Claiming it as ‘nonsense’, Shah stated that he had checked with historians about the facts about Akbar’s interest in starting a new religion.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In the new web series<em> Taj: Divided by Blood</em>, which premieres on Zee5 this week, Naseeruddin Shah plays the role of Akbar while Aditi Rao Hydaru plays courtesan Anarkali. The show also features Dharmendra, Taha Shah Badussha, Sandhya Mridul and Ashim Gulati. The story is reportedly based on true events and revolves around blood battle that ensued between Akbar’s sons for the Mughal throne. It also highlights the complex relationship Akbar shared with his eldest child, Emperor Jehangir.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Talking about the show, Naseeruddin Shah recently pointed out the misinformation about Akbar. In an interview to Indian Express the actor said, “My understanding initially was that of any student who studied history in the 50s or the early 60s, just in the wake of independence when the influence of the British was still very strong. We had Irish teachers, and English instructors. The picture drawn of Akbar was always that of a benevolent, kind-hearted, broad-minded, progressive ruler. The one fly in the ointment being his desire to start a new religion. We read about this in history books, which is absolute nonsense.”<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>“I have checked this with authoritative historians and Akbar never did attempt to start a new religion. This is a fact which was in our history books called the Din-e Elahi. But Akbar never used the word Din-e Elahi, ever. He called it Wahdat-e Elahi, which means the oneness of the creator. That no matter who you worship, in what form you worship him, you’re worshipping the creator. You may worship a stone, you may worship a crucifix, you may bow your head to the Kaaba, you may worship the rising sun and do what you like, but you are worshipping one and the same thing. That was his belief. This is what I found out,” he added.<br />
<br />
The senior actor alleged that the ‘misinformation’ was related to the term--Din-e-Elahi was coined because of historian Abul Fazal who didn't like Akbar. He said it was one of the discoveries he made and later discussed it with the writers of the show. “Luckily, my objections were upheld,” he also said.<br />
<br />
Taj is a 10-part family drama series. It is set to release on Zee5 on March 3.</p>

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Naseeruddin Shah will soon be seen playing Mughal Emperor Akbar in new web series called Taj: Divided By Blood. The veteran Indian actor, while promoting his new show, recently stated that his understanding of Emperor Akbar changed after working on the show.

Naseeruddin Shah will soon be seen playing Mughal Emperor Akbar in new web series called Taj: Divided By Blood. The veteran Indian actor, while promoting his new show, recently stated that his understanding of Emperor Akbar changed after working on the show. Shah stated that a common misconception about the Emperor was that he wanted to start his own religion: Din-e-Elahi. Claiming it as ‘nonsense’, Shah stated that he had checked with historians about the facts about Akbar’s interest in starting a new religion. In the new web series Taj: Divided by Blood, which premieres on Zee5 this week, Naseeruddin Shah plays the role of Akbar while Aditi Rao Hydaru plays courtesan Anarkali. The show also features Dharmendra, Taha Shah Badussha, Sandhya Mridul and Ashim Gulati. The story is reportedly based on true events and revolves around blood battle that ensued between Akbar’s sons for the Mughal throne. It also highlights the complex relationship Akbar shared with his eldest child, Emperor Jehangir. Talking about the show, Naseeruddin Shah recently pointed out the misinformation about Akbar. In an interview to Indian Express the actor said, “My understanding initially was that of any student who studied history in the 50s or the early 60s, just in the wake of independence when the influence of the British was still very strong. We had Irish teachers, and English instructors. The picture drawn of Akbar was always that of a benevolent, kind-hearted, broad-minded, progressive ruler. The one fly in the ointment being his desire to start a new religion. We read about this in history books, which is absolute nonsense.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZEE5 (@zee5) × “I have checked this with authoritative historians and Akbar never did attempt to start a new religion. This is a fact which was in our history books called the Din-e Elahi. But Akbar never used the word Din-e Elahi, ever. He called it Wahdat-e Elahi, which means the oneness of the creator. That no matter who you worship, in what form you worship him, you’re worshipping the creator. You may worship a stone, you may worship a crucifix, you may bow your head to the Kaaba, you may worship the rising sun and do what you like, but you are worshipping one and the same thing. That was his belief. This is what I found out,” he added. The senior actor alleged that the ‘misinformation’ was related to the term--Din-e-Elahi was coined because of historian Abul Fazal who didn't like Akbar. He said it was one of the discoveries he made and later discussed it with the writers of the show. “Luckily, my objections were upheld,” he also said. Taj is a 10-part family drama series. It is set to release on Zee5 on March 3. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Naseeruddin Shah states there is misinformation about Akbar: He never used the word Din-e Elahi

<p>Former union minister MJ Akbar's lawyer said in court on Thursday that "irreparable damage"&nbsp;had been caused to his reputation. The court was hearing the criminal defamation case Akbar has filed against the journalist Priya Ramani.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As many as 16 women have accused Akbar of sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct. Akbar however&nbsp;zeroed in on Ramani because he says she <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/metoo-union-minister-mj-akbar-files-defamation-case-against-journalist-priya-ramani-171563">began "this campaign" against him</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-absolute-truth-is-my-only-defence-priya-ramani-after-mj-akbar-files-criminal-defamation-case-against-her-171599">'The absolute truth is my only defence,' says Priya Ramani</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Irreparable damage caused to Akbar’s reputation which he has built over 40 years. Articles in international and national media quoted these defamatory tweets," Luthra said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She then added that "tweets are defamatory unless Ramani proves anything".&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ramani was the first person to describe Akbar's misconduct — without naming him. She wrote, in 2017, about how Akbar had interviewed her in a Mumbai hotel room when she had been 23 years old. Akbar had been 43 at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The other allegations against Akbar came after India's own #MeToo movement kicked off with the actor Tanushree Dutta accusing Nana Patekar of sexual misconduct.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Criminal defamation case filed by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MJAkbar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MJAkbar</a> against journalist Priya Ramani: MJ Akbar's lawyer Geeta Luthra said before court, "Irreparable damage caused to Akbar’s reputation which he has built over 40 years."</p>
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<p>"Priya Ramani has tweeted defamatory tweets against the complainant. Her second tweet was clearly defamatory and liked by 1200 people,"&nbsp;Luthra said in court on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court will hear the statements of Akbar and other witnesses in the case on October 31.</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former union minister MJ Akbar's lawyer said in court on Thursday that "irreparable damage" had been caused to his reputation. The court was hearing the criminal defamation case Akbar has filed against the journalist Priya Ramani.

Former union minister MJ Akbar's lawyer said in court on Thursday that "irreparable damage" had been caused to his reputation. The court was hearing the criminal defamation case Akbar has filed against the journalist Priya Ramani. As many as 16 women have accused Akbar of sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct. Akbar however zeroed in on Ramani because he says she began "this campaign" against him. Also read: 'The absolute truth is my only defence,' says Priya Ramani "Irreparable damage caused to Akbar’s reputation which he has built over 40 years. Articles in international and national media quoted these defamatory tweets," Luthra said. She then added that "tweets are defamatory unless Ramani proves anything". Ramani was the first person to describe Akbar's misconduct — without naming him. She wrote, in 2017, about how Akbar had interviewed her in a Mumbai hotel room when she had been 23 years old. Akbar had been 43 at the time. The other allegations against Akbar came after India's own #MeToo movement kicked off with the actor Tanushree Dutta accusing Nana Patekar of sexual misconduct. Criminal defamation case filed by #MJAkbar against journalist Priya Ramani: MJ Akbar's lawyer Geeta Luthra said before court, "Irreparable damage caused to Akbar’s reputation which he has built over 40 years." — ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018 × "Priya Ramani has tweeted defamatory tweets against the complainant. Her second tweet was clearly defamatory and liked by 1200 people," Luthra said in court on Thursday. The court will hear the statements of Akbar and other witnesses in the case on October 31. × (With inputs from agencies)

'Irreparable damage caused to Akbar’s reputation,' his lawyer says in court

<p>The Congress and the Left parties Wednesday hailed the resignation of union minister M J Akbar following charges of sexual harassment and dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up now.</p>

<p>While the Congress termed the resignation as "victory of truth", it asked whether the prime minister will dare to speak up now.</p>

<p>The Left parties said Akbar's resignation was a victory for the #MeToo movement and the protests carried out by them against the journalist-turned-politician.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CPI and the women's wing of CPI-M, however, said Akbar should have resigned early and the action has come "too late".</p>

<p>The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said this was insufficient and sought criminal proceedings against Akbar.</p>

<p>Congress leader Ragini Naik said the silence of Modi on the #MeToo movement is deafening, as she accused the government as being "misogynist" which has "deceived" those crores of women voters who placed their faith, reposed their trust in the BJP in 2014.</p>

<p>"Times is up Modi ji. The silence of PM Modi on #MeToo movement is deafening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The silence of Prime Minister Modi has deceived those crores of women voters who had placed their faith, reposed their trust in the BJP in 2014," she told reporters.</p>

<p>"Now that M J Akbar, who has been accused by no less than 36 women of misconduct and harassment, has finally resigned, will PM Modi dare to speak up," Naik asked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think the Modi government was compelled to ask M J Akbar to resign from the Union ministry as the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the country. He should have resigned on the first day when his former colleagues made sexual harassment allegations against him," CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Slamming Akbar for the delay in tendering his resignation, he said, "It is too late".&nbsp;</p>

<p>CPI Secretary D Raja said, "The resignation can be called a moral victory for all those women who have suffered such sexual harassment".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said the social atmosphere in the country was such that women can get the confidence to speak up against the sexual harassment faced by them.</p>

<p>The AAP Wednesday hailed the women who accused Akbar of "sexual harassment" and said his resignation "completely exposed" the 'Chaal, Charitra and Chehra' of the ruling BJP at the Centre.</p>

<p>Reacting to Akbar's resignation, AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey said the action was "not sufficient" and demanded criminal proceedings against him.</p>

<p>Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said she saluted those women who stood on their charges against the minister bravely despite the "brazen" stance taken by the government.</p>

<p>"This resignation is a vindication of the power of truth. More strength to India's women," she said.</p>

<p>"The resignation of MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar after serious charges were levelled against him by senior women journalists who worked with him is a vindication of the power of truth even if it began with one brave person speaking up," she said.</p>

<p>Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev termed Akbar's stepping down as a "moral victory" for everyone and sought support for the #MeToo movement across party lines.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"I admire the courage of @priyaramani &amp; all the victims who spoke out against sexual harassment &amp; 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. "</p>

<p>Naik said the Congress believes that the belated resignation of Akbar is a result of the persistent pressure put by women who have shared their horrific and uncomfortable stories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is also a vindication of the Congress party's unequivocal stand on the #MeToo movement, she said.</p>

<p>"We also think that it is a time for a fair trial so that justice prevails. This country has a rule of law and the Congress Party believes that any allegation levelled against anybody must pass this test of justice. We hope and wish that all the women fighting this tough battle would be heard and finally justice would be imparted," she said.&nbsp;</p>


The Congress and the Left parties Wednesday hailed the resignation of union minister M J Akbar following charges of sexual harassment and dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up now.

The Congress and the Left parties Wednesday hailed the resignation of union minister M J Akbar following charges of sexual harassment and dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up now. While the Congress termed the resignation as "victory of truth", it asked whether the prime minister will dare to speak up now. The Left parties said Akbar's resignation was a victory for the #MeToo movement and the protests carried out by them against the journalist-turned-politician. The CPI and the women's wing of CPI-M, however, said Akbar should have resigned early and the action has come "too late". The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said this was insufficient and sought criminal proceedings against Akbar. Congress leader Ragini Naik said the silence of Modi on the #MeToo movement is deafening, as she accused the government as being "misogynist" which has "deceived" those crores of 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. "The silence of Prime Minister Modi has deceived those crores of women voters who had placed their faith, reposed their trust in the BJP in 2014," 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 Modi dare to speak up," Naik asked. "I think the Modi government was compelled to ask M J Akbar to resign from the Union ministry as the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the country. He should have resigned on the first day when his former colleagues made sexual harassment allegations against him," CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy said. Slamming Akbar for the delay in tendering his resignation, he said, "It is too late". CPI Secretary D Raja said, "The resignation can be called a moral victory for all those women who have suffered such sexual harassment". He said the social atmosphere in the country was such that women can get the confidence to speak up against the sexual harassment faced by them. The AAP Wednesday hailed the women who accused Akbar of "sexual harassment" and said his resignation "completely exposed" the 'Chaal, Charitra and Chehra' of the ruling BJP at the Centre. Reacting to Akbar's resignation, AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey said the action was "not sufficient" and demanded criminal proceedings against him. Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said she saluted those women who stood on their charges against the minister bravely despite 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. "The resignation of MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar after serious charges were levelled against him by senior women journalists who worked with him is a vindication of the power of truth even if it began with one brave person speaking up," she said. Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev termed Akbar's stepping down as a "moral victory" for everyone and sought support for the #MeToo movement 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. " Naik said the Congress believes that the belated resignation of Akbar is a result of the persistent pressure put by women who have shared their horrific and uncomfortable stories. It is also a vindication of the Congress party's unequivocal stand on the #MeToo movement, she said. "We also think that it is a time for a fair trial so that justice prevails. This country has a rule of law and the Congress Party believes that any allegation levelled against anybody must pass this test of justice. We hope and wish that all the women fighting this tough battle would be heard and finally justice would be imparted," she said.

Left says Akbar resignation has come 'too late', Congress dares PM to speak up

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