Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal’s assault allegations on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar has triggered a political slugfest with various political parties responding to the incident. While the AAP chief dodged questions on the issue, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was with Maliwal in this case.
She said, “If any atrocity happens to any woman anywhere, we stand with the woman. I always stand with women irrespective of which party they belong to. Secondly, AAP will discuss among themselves and make a decision. It is up to them.”
#WATCH | On AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal assault case, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, “…If any atrocity happens to any woman anywhere, we stand with the woman. I always stand with women – irrespective of which party they belong to. Secondly, AAP will… pic.twitter.com/w1yoAbEjGm— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2024
On Thursday, the AAP changed track and tried to play down the controversy, using statements such as “AAP is family” and “Don’t politicise the issue”. In fact, it tried to turn the tables on the BJP instead.
In a joint press conference by Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, when reporters persisted for clarification on the row, Yadav said “there are more important issues than this”.
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal refuses to answer when asked about AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal’s assault case.SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says “There are other issues that are more important than this…” pic.twitter.com/0FDkRiFhrs
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2024
“BJP is not loyal to anyone. BJP is a gang that slaps false cases,” he added. Kejriwal remained silent and passed the mic to Sanjay Singh who launched into an attack on the BJP: “The entire country is saddened by the fact that even today, when a Kargil soldier’s wife was paraded naked, the PM remained silent.”
72 hoursNo FIR on Bibhav Kumar instead Kejriwal is protecting him ! Roaming around with him..It is clear- attack on Swati Maliwal was done at behest of Kejriwal himself
Sheesh Mahal is Apradh Mahal & just like Draupadi cheerharan – a woman Rajya Sabha MP was subjected to… pic.twitter.com/1ig50VqHbT
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) May 16, 2024
With inputs from News18
Delhi Police fies FIR in Swati Maliwal’s assault case 