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Not just harassment, M J Akbar raped me ultimately: US journalist’s gut-wrenching #MeToo

coastaldigest.com web desk
November 2, 2018

Newsroom, Nov 2: In a shocking revelation, Pallavi Gogoi, the chief business editor of the US-based National Public Radio, has claimed that she was raped by journalist-turned-politician M J Akbar in 1994, when she was 23 years old and working for The Asian Age.

M J Akbar has dismissed the allegations as false, his lawyer told The Washington Post, which has published the first person account of Pallavi Gogoi, who is now a citizen of United States of America.

In an extensive piece on The Washington Post, Pallavi Gogoi said that she found out about the accusations against M J Akbar, prompting her to call her friends. She goes on to describe how, as a 22-year-old journalist in The Asian Age, where Akbar spared no opportunity to show just how superior he was to the new employees.

Gogoi says that she became the editor of the op-ed page a year after joining the Age, but "would soon pay a very big price for doing a job I loved". She said that when she went to show Akbar the page she had made that day, he applauded her and then lunged to kiss her.

Not stopping there, Akbar called her to the Taj hotel just months later and tried to repeat the kiss, but she fought him off at the cost of getting scratched.

Gogoi said that since then, she would come to work before others so she could finish her pages and leave to report by 11, but even that did not help her, for after an incident in Bombay, she found herself in Delhi, covering the murder of an inter-caste couple. Not long after, Akbar said to her to discuss her story with him in Jaipur, where he overpowered and raped her.

After the rape, Gogoi says Akbar became emboldened to defile her repeatedly and would shout at her if she spoke to her male colleagues in the company.

Gogoi said that she confided in Tushita Patel, one of Akbar's accusers, and left the Asian Age and went to New York, where she found work as a reporting assistant and eventually, a United States citizenship.

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News Network
August 4,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 4: With preparations underway for conducting exams for the final semester/ year students in the state, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwathnarayan on Monday directed the respective universities to conduct exams for the backlog papers as well.

"In the wake of COVID-19, it has been decided to hold exams only for the students of final semester/year courses. It has come to our notice that some universities have decided against conducting exams for final year students who have a backlog to clear from previous semesters. This is unpardonable," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

"Our intention is to see that the final year students finish their course. In the present situation, conducting only final semester exams won't help. We have to help the students in clearing their backlogs," added Ashwathnarayan, directing all universities to compulsorily conduct these exams.

Meanwhile, Ashwathnarayan thanked the staff and officials of various government departments who were responsible for successfully conducting the CET exams even amidst the difficult situation in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

"In all, 1,94,419 students had registered for the CET exams, of which 1,75,428 wrote the exams. The percentage of students who took up the exams this year was equivalent to that of the previous years, in normal times," the DCM informed.

"After we successfully conducted the exams, Arunachal Pradesh is going to conduct the Public Service Commission exams on the lines of how we successfully conducted the exams. Likewise, even our KPSC has said it will conduct the exams. We must appreciate the good work of the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), which has set an example for others," Ashwathnarayan said.

The deputy chief minister said that 33 colleges in various districts across the state faced shortage of land and that it is the responsibility of the District Commissioners (DCs) to get the lands sanctioned for all these colleges.
In Bagalkot district alone land has not been sanctioned for six degree colleges, he said.

Reacting to this, Bagalkot DC Captain Rajendra assured to look into the matter as soon as he receives the proposal from department officials.

"Similarly, there is shortage of land for five Diploma colleges and 28 ITI colleges in different parts of the state. The DCs must immediately pay attention to this. Once they get the land, buildings will come up within no time," the Karnataka deputy chief minister said.

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News Network
March 25,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 25: A full-fledged control room was set up at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Mangaluru to collect all information about the suspected patients.  

The control room will function under the guidance of KIADB special land acquisition officer.  

All the details on those who arrived from foreign countries via Mangalore Airport, via airports in other districts, primary and secondary contacts of the people who arrived from foreign countries are being compiled at the control room.

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News Network
May 13,2020

Shivamogga, May 12: As many as six medical staff members, attached to the Shivamogga district hospital, who were members of the Corona Warriors team, were suspended for raising concerns over inadequate facilities, available to the frontline workers.

According to official sources, among the six, who were suspended by the Hospital Director, included three staff nurses and other supporting staff in the hospital.

The cause for the retaliation with punishment, was following concerns raised by the medical staff over aweful facilities, made available to them by the Hospital authorities.

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