Swati Maliwal, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), delivered a scathing critique of her own party on Sunday, accusing it of rallying to “save the accused” amid protests over the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, in connection with an assault case.
In a tweet posted in Hindi, Maliwal lamented the irony of the situation, contrasting it with past instances where public outcry demanded justice, such as in the Nirbhaya case. She expressed disappointment that efforts were not similarly mobilized to support Manish Sisodia, a senior AAP leader. Maliwal, who alleges that Kumar assaulted her, detailed the incident, claiming she was subjected to physical violence before the disappearance of crucial CCTV footage.
Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s Chief Minister and AAP chief, announced plans for a march to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters to protest Kumar’s arrest. Kejriwal framed the action as a direct challenge to the Prime Minister, asserting that he was ready to face any consequences.
Responding to Kejriwal’s announcement, the BJP threatened to arrest AAP MP Raghav Chadha and Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, adding to the escalating tensions between the rival political factions.
Maliwal’s allegations of tampered evidence and missing footage underscore the contentious nature of the incident. She accused Kumar of assaulting her, followed by the erasure of crucial evidence. Maliwal’s claims fuel suspicions of a cover-up and highlight the deepening rift within the AAP.
As the confrontation between the AAP and the BJP intensifies, the controversy surrounding Kumar’s arrest and Maliwal’s accusations further polarize the political landscape in Delhi, raising questions about accountability and transparency within the ruling party.
