Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has launched a fierce critique against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) amidst the controversy over her alleged assault. Maliwal accused AAP leaders of protecting the accused rather than seeking justice for her, highlighting a significant rift within the party.
The incident allegedly occurred at the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, where Maliwal claims she was assaulted by Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Kejriwal, on Monday. In response to the party's protest march, Maliwal expressed her outrage on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), denouncing the party’s actions.
"There was a time when we all came out on the streets to get justice for Nirbhaya. Today, after 12 years, they are out taking to the streets to save the accused who made the CCTV footage disappear and formatted the phone," Maliwal posted, drawing a stark comparison to the historic Nirbhaya case, which galvanized public opinion and led to major legal reforms in India regarding sexual assault.
Maliwal also referenced former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, currently in jail, suggesting her plight might have been different if he were present. "I wish they had tried so hard for Manish Sisodia. If he was here, maybe something so bad would not have happened to me," she remarked, indicating a sense of betrayal and highlighting internal fractures within the party.
Bibhav Kumar was arrested by the Delhi Police on Saturday in connection with the alleged assault. The AAP has vehemently denied the allegations against Kumar, accusing Maliwal of fabricating the story and aligning with the BJP to frame Kejriwal in a politically motivated case during the election period.
This incident has sparked a political storm, with the AAP on the defensive and Maliwal's accusations adding fuel to the fire. The situation underscores the deepening divisions and the high-stakes nature of political maneuvering in the lead-up to elections.
