Relationship based on coercion can’t be consensual: Pallavi Gogoi Counters MJ Akbar

Pallavi Gogoi —a US-based, Indian born journalist — who has accused editor turned politician MJ Akbar of sexual misconduct when she was 22-year old. But MJ Akbar rubbished her claim and called it was consensual.

Countering MJ Akbar’s latest remark, wherein he said that his relationship with her as consensual, Gogoi corrected him and said that a relationship based on coercion and abuse can’t be consensual.

Pallavi Gogoi has written a piece published in Washington Post claims she was raped by MJ Akbar during 90’s. She wrote, “I was mesmerised by his use of language, his turns of phrase, wishing that I could write like he did. So I took all the verbal abuse. After all, I was learning from the best. Or so I thought.”

Adding that she said that in the year 1994, Akbar ‘applauded her efforts and suddenly lunged to kiss’ her. The journalist recalls that she was left ‘red-faced, confused, ashamed, destroyed’ by his act.

When Akbar rubbished her and said that both were in a relationship spanning months but perhaps it did not end on the best note. “People who worked with me and knew both of us have indicated that they would be happy to testify and if the behaviour of Pallavi Gogoi give any one of them impression that she was working under duress,” Akbar added.

Gogoi said, “I stand by every word in my published account.” In a statement, Gogoi said, “Rather than take responsibility for his abuse of me and his serial predation of other young women who have courageously come forward, Akbar has instead – just like other infamous serious sexual abusers of women – that the relationship was consensual. It was not.”

“I will continue to speak my truth so that other women who have been sexually assaulted by him know it is okay for them to come forward and speak their truth too,” Gogoi added.

Also read: #MeToo: MJ Akbar rubbishes Pallavi Gogoi’s claim, says it was consensual