The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): AAP MP Swati Maliwal accused her party on Friday of capitulating under the pressure of a “goon” and dismissing her assault allegations against Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Maliwal asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made a “U-turn” after initially accepting her claims that Kumar had “misbehaved” with her.
Her remarks followed AAP leader Atishi’s press conference, where she described the assault case as a BJP conspiracy aimed at framing Kejriwal, with Maliwal allegedly being the “face” of this conspiracy. Atishi labeled Maliwal’s allegations against Kumar as “baseless.”
Expressing her frustration on social media, Maliwal wrote in Hindi on X, “Leaders who joined AAP yesterday have labeled a worker who has been with the party for 20 years as a BJP agent. Two days ago, the party acknowledged the truth in a press conference, and today, it has reversed its stance.”
Earlier, senior AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh condemned the incident involving Maliwal and claimed that Kumar had indeed “misbehaved” with her. However, Maliwal suggested that Kumar, without directly naming him, is intimidating the party by threatening to reveal secrets if arrested. “This goon is threatening the party, saying ‘if I get arrested, I will reveal all the secrets.’ That is why he is roaming around in Lucknow and seeking shelter,” she said.
Maliwal lamented that the party, under pressure, has questioned her character to protect Kumar. “Today, under his pressure, the party gave in, and to save a goon, my character was questioned by the entire party. No problem, I have been fighting alone for women across the country; I will fight for myself too. Do character assassination as much as possible; the truth will come out when the time comes,” she posted on X.
The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Kumar for allegedly assaulting Maliwal at the chief minister’s official residence. In response, Atishi stated that Kumar has also lodged a police complaint against Maliwal.
Barabanki will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.