The BJP escalated its criticism against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday regarding the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, questioning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s silence on the matter. Expressing concern over the safety of women, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that if a woman MP isn’t secure in the CM’s residence, it raises serious questions about women’s security in Delhi.
Speaking at a press conference held at the party headquarters, Sitharaman condemned Kejriwal’s visit to Lucknow with his Personal Assistant Bibhav Kumar, who is accused of assaulting Maliwal, for a meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Sitharaman demanded that Kejriwal address the Maliwal issue and offer an apology, criticizing his association with Bibhav Kumar.
Highlighting the delay in filing a police complaint by Maliwal, Sitharaman suggested that pressure from higher authorities might have influenced her decision. She emphasized the responsibility of the Delhi CM in ensuring the safety of women in the city, stating that Kejriwal should be held accountable for the incident.
Meanwhile, Swati Maliwal appeared at Tis Hazari Court in Delhi as an FIR was registered against her alleged assaulter, Bibhav Kumar, after she filed a formal complaint with the police. Breaking her silence on the incident, Maliwal stated that she had provided her statement to the police and urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not to politicize the matter.
Maliwal acknowledged the difficulty of the past few days and expressed her hope for appropriate action to be taken. She emphasized that amidst ongoing elections, national issues take precedence over individual concerns.
BJP leaders continued to criticize the AAP and Kejriwal, questioning their ability to ensure the safety of women in Delhi. The incident, which occurred at the CM’s residence, raised concerns about the overall security situation in the city.
Maliwal initially reached the Civil Lines police station after a PCR call regarding the alleged assault, but she did not file a formal complaint at that time and left the police station.
