Within New Delhi’s political sphere, amidst a heated confrontation involving the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the alleged aggression towards Rajya Sabha MP and former DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal, Shehzad Poonawala, the BJP national spokesperson, proclaimed on Thursday that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was shielding his aide, Bibhav Kumar, the purported offender in the incident.
The assertion was made regarding an incident where CM Kejriwal’s assistant purportedly assaulted the former Delhi Commission for Women chairperson at the CM’s residence. Initially maintaining silence on the matter, AAP acknowledged the incident later, with senior party figure and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh affirming that the CM had acknowledged the occurrence and stringent measures would ensue.
Nevertheless, Poonawala, utilizing his official X handle, shared an image depicting AAP leaders at Lucknow airport, featuring party leader Kejriwal alongside Sanjay Singh and Bibhav Kumar. Poonawala commented, “72 hours, and still no FIR against Bibhav Kumar. Instead, Kejriwal stands as his shield! Fraternizing with him…”
The BJP representative contended that Maliwal’s assault was orchestrated by Kejriwal himself, resulting in her suffering violence. “The narrative is clear: the assault on Swati Maliwal was at the direct behest of Kejriwal. The palace of mirrors becomes the palace of offenses, reminiscent of Draupadi’s disrobing—a female Rajya Sabha MP subjected to violence and assault,” added Poonawala.
Further, Poonawala alleged that Maliwal was being coerced by her party into silence or altering her account, hence her reluctance to approach the police. “She is now pressured to maintain silence or modify her narrative, as evidenced by the statements of Naveen Jaihind & Nitin Tyagi of AAP. Thus, she refrains from involving the authorities. The true visage of AAP – an anti-women anarchic faction,” asserted Poonawala.
Meanwhile, Kapil Mishra, the vice president of BJP’s Delhi unit, also shared the aforementioned picture of Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh, and Bibhav Kumar at Lucknow airport, highlighting the earlier condemnation of the incident by the Rajya Sabha MP.
“This is a portrayal of Lucknow airport from the previous night. The figure in black, Bibhav, is the one who targeted Swati Maliwal. Accompanying him is Sanjay Singh, who denounced Bibhav’s actions while expressing Kejriwal’s ire. The third individual is Kejriwal himself, accused of orchestrating Swati’s assault,” Mishra remarked on X.
In condemnation of the purported assault on fellow Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh stated on Tuesday that Kejriwal had acknowledged the incident and instructed severe action. Addressing a press briefing, Singh remarked, “Yesterday witnessed an unfortunate incident. At Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, Swati Maliwal was subjected to misconduct by Bibhav Kumar (Arvind Kejriwal’s PA). Swati Maliwal reported this to the Delhi Police. This is a reprehensible occurrence. Arvind Kejriwal has taken cognizance and demanded stringent action. We stand in solidarity with Swati Maliwal.”
Critiquing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal by his personal assistant, Virendraa Sachdeva, the BJP’s Delhi chief, alleged that the head of the ruling party in the national capital advocates for ‘oppression of women’.
In dialogue with ANI, the BJP’s Delhi chief remarked, “Last night, Arvind Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh, and Bibhav Kumar (the CM’s aide accused of assaulting Maliwal) were spotted together at Lucknow airport. The individual accused of assaulting Swati Maliwal is accompanying him. This illustrates Kejriwal’s endorsement of women’s oppression. The true, anti-women nature of AAP now stands exposed.”