“Stand By Him”: Daughter Mallika Defends Journalist Vinod Dua Over #MeToo

Source- ndtv.com

After media veteran, Vinod Dua joined the growing list of journalists accused of sexual misconduct, his daughter Mallika Dua, a popular face on social media, extended her support to the #MeToo movement while carefully maintaining that even though it’s his battle, she will “stand by him”.

While the senior journalist, who is a consulting editor of news website The Wire, has denied the allegations, Ms Dua’s statement on Instagram, which is addressed to the filmmaker Nishtha Jain who accused Vinod Dua of sexually harassing her almost three decades ago, opens with her endorsement of the movement in which she said, “If at all my father is truly guilty of what you described, it is unacceptable, traumatic and painful.”

Ms Dua promises to stand up against bigotry, misogyny and stand up for survivors. “Nothing gets to kill my vibe,” she added.

However, she lashed out at the filmmaker for dragging her into the matter which she said was “in terrible taste” and then asked “everyone else” to “stop forcing women to give statements for your entertainment”.

“This isn’t my battle to fight. It isn’t my responsibility, shame or burden. I will deal with this my way on my time,” she asserted.

She wrapped the post by saying she will not let objectives, ideals and purpose be hijacked by shamers.

Ms Jain had alleged that the journalist used to stalk her. The filmmaker recalled how Vinod Dua blasted Akshay Kumar for his sexist remarks on her daughter Mallika.

She wrote, “When I read about his outrage against Akshay Kumar’s sexist words to his daughter Malika Dua, I said to myself he’s obviously forgotten that he was no less sexist, no less misogynist, no less creepy a sexual harasser, potential rapist. If he did to me, I’m sure he would have done it to other women. Today, he does programmes explaining (to) the world what constitutes sexual harassment. He should stop everything and look into his own shady past.”

But in the next post she said “the daughter will stand by her predator father. Wife will stand by her predator husband. Bloodlines run deeper than #MeToo”.

Vinod Dua has in the past served as a part-time consultant with NDTV. His association with the company ended in 2013. Acting on the allegations, The Wire has issued a statement which said Vinod Dua has denied the charge. “We await the outcome of their deliberations in the matter,” it said.

The #MeToo crusade swept America after revelations emerged about the behaviour of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and he was charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. Though it took a year for the storm to hit India, the accusers are calling out “predators” emphasising their “time’s up”.

It was sparked by the allegations of former actor Tanushree Dutta, who accused actor Nana Patekar of harassing her on the sets of a film 10 years ago.

Soon a huge debate raged on social media, leading to scores of women narrating their experiences, naming and shaming established media men, writers and people from the entertainment industry. Several of those named have been removed from their posts. Some of the men have apologised, others have demanded proof and warned of legal action.