New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) summoned the private secretary of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bibhav Kumar, to appear on Friday. This summons are in relation to the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP and former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal.
The NCW in a notice stated, “The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo moto cognizance of a media post captioned “DCW chief Swati Maliwal accuses Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary of assaulting her. The post reported that Ms. Swati Maliwal, RS MP and former DCW chief, has alleged thatthe Private Secretary of (the) Chief Minister of Delhi had brutally assaulted her at the Chief Minister’s residence.”
“In view of the above, the Commission has scheduled a hearing in this matter on May 17, 2024, at 11 AM. All concerned parties are required to appear before the Commission in person,” it added.
WHO SAID WHAT:
Earlier in the day, during joint press conference of as Chief Minister Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, reporters tried questioning the Delhi CM on the alleged assault on the AAP Rajya Sabha member. However, the AAP supremo evaded all queries on Maliwal. As the issue was raised at the joint presser, Akhilesh brushed aside the query saying “There are other issues that are more important than this.”
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of playing ‘political games’ on the issue, alleging that the ruling party at the Centre was behind an earlier incident in which Maliwal was ‘dragged and manhandled’ by Delhi Police personnel during the wrestlers’ protest near Jantar Mantar.
“Aam Aadmi Party is our family. The party has taken a clear stand on this issue…Can they answer on the case of Swati Maliwal, when she went to fight for justice for women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, they made the police drag and beat her up. Don’t play political games on this,” Singh said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reacting on the AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal assault case 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 amid themselves and make a decision. It is up to them.”
BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala claimed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was shielding his personal assistant Bibhav Kumar, the accused in the case. Sharing an image of AAP leaders at the Lucknow airport in which party boss Kejriwal, along with Sanjay Singh and Bibhav Kumar are seen, Poonawala posted from his official X handle on Thursday, “72 hours No FIR on Bibhav Kumar instead Kejriwal is protecting him! Roaming around with him..”
“It is clear: attack on Swati Maliwal was done at (the) behest of Kejriwal himself Sheesh Mahal is Apradh Mahal & just like Draupadi cheerharan–a woman Rajya Sabha MP was subjected to violence, assault,” Poonawala added.
SWATI MALIWAL ASSAULT:
It was alleged that CM Kejriwal’s aide had assaulted the former chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women at the former’s residence. After initially maintaining silence in the matter, the AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that the CM had taken due cognisance of the incident and strict action would follow.
Singh during a press conference, addressed the incident involving Swati Maliwal, alleging misbehavior by Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar.
“Yesterday, an incident took place. At the residence of Arvind Kejriwal, an incident of misbehaviour took place with Swati Maliwal by Bibhav Kumar (Arvind Kejriwal’s PA). Swati Maliwal has informed about this incident to Delhi Police. This is a condemnable incident. Arvind Kejriwal has taken cognizance of the incident and has directed strict action in the incident. We are with Swati Maliwal,” Singh said.
