Amid sexual harassment allegations against her ministerial colleague M J Akbar, Union minister Smriti Irani on Thursday said it was for him to respond to the charges even as she favoured justice for the "ladies who are speaking out". As the #MeToo campaign gathered momentum, some women journalists have accused Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs, of sexually harassing them during his stint as editor in two newspapers.

"The gentleman concerned would be better positioned to speak on this issue," Irani told reporters here while responding to questions over allegations against Akbar.
Akbar, whose resignation is being demanded by opposition political parties, has not reacted to the allegations.