On the growing call for MJ Akbar's ouster from the Union Council of Ministers, Swamy said since he hadn't appointed Akbar, it wasn't a call for him to take.. (Photo: ANI)

On Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy demanded a probe into the allegations of sexual harassment against Union Minister for External Affairs MJ Akbar, though he refrained from commenting on the latter's future in government.

Swamy said the ten women who'd come forward with serious allegations against MJ Akbar, in his earlier capacity as a journalist, had a case to pursue.

"These accounts are prime facie evidence. FIRs are registered on such evidence. This is a case where so many women are saying something. I would not dismiss it. I would say its a prima facie case and let there be a full-fledged enquiry," Swamy told India Today Television.

On the growing call for MJ Akbar's ouster from the Union Council of Ministers, Swamy said since he hadn't appointed Akbar, it wasn't a call for him to take.

"That only the Prime Minister can answer. But what I have told in private, I'm not going to say it publicly. I think this is a call for the Prime Minister to take, not for any minister or MP or party functionary to decide," he stated.

Swamy also recounted how in the eighties when he had raised the issue of similar allegations against two prominent politicians then, he was accused of settling scores by the media.

"Twenty years ago when I spoke about women getting harassed by politicians, people said I was getting personal. Today the climate has changed. It has become an epidemic. Its happening in every place. Therefore this is the appropriate time for people to come out and speak, and we are supporting that."

Subramanian Swamy revealed that there are several persons with the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh who are in favour of women speaking up. He however didn't concur with RSS functionary Indresh Kumar questioning why some of the women were raking up old instances, and said he understood why it took them a while to express their anguish.

It is interesting to note Swamy claimed he had himself heard whispers of Akbar's transgressions in the past. "Its not that I was completely shocked. There were these rumours floating earlier," the senior BJP leader said.

Also read: In support of MeToo campaign, Swati Maliwal writes letter to PM, seeks MJ Akbar's resignation

Also read: Maneka Gandhi sets up panel to look into all MeToo cases

Watch: Me Too: Is MJ Akbar's continuance as Union minister now completely untenable?