New Delhi: Dismissing the charges of “assault” against the CM’s aide Bibhav Kumar as “falsehood”, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Friday termed its Rajya Sabha Swati Maliwal a “pawn” and the “face of a conspiracy hatched by the BJP” to implicate Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in false charges.
It marked a significant departure from the AAP’s initial stand that Kumar would be acted against for “misbehaving” with Maliwal at Kejriwal’s residence on the morning of 13 May. This also effectively marked the beginning of what is likely to be a bruising showdown between AAP and Maliwal, one of the oldest associates of Kejriwal from his days as an activist.
Addressing a press conference, AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi launched a no- holds barred attack against Maliwal, who was nominated to the Upper House of Parliament in January, marking the end of her eventful stint as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women.
Atishi alleged Maliwal landed at Kejriwal’s residence “unannounced and without any appointment” on the morning of 13 May to “implicate Kejriwal with false allegations”. The BJP, “which is desperate ever since Kejriwal walked out on bail” was behind the “conspiracy”, she added.
“Maliwal wanted to frame the CM but he was saved as he was not available. So she chose to level the false charges against Bibhav. The video that has emerged today has exposed her lies. Going by her police complaint, she suffered injuries but in the video she could be seen sitting comfortable. Moreover, she is threatening police officials and Bibhav. Her clothes are not torn and there are no signs of head injury,” Atishi said.
Atishi was referring to a 52-second long video clip which shows Maliwal’s altercation with police officials and Bibhav inside Kejriwal’s residence.
Malilwal could be heard saying she has already called the police control room and will not leave the premises till the police don’t arrive at the scene. The officials can be heard requesting her to leave, but she stays put, dares them to throw her out physically and also shouts at Bibhav. ThePrint cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video.
Soon, Maliwal responded to the allegation on ‘X’ in Hindi, saying that Kumar was “roaming” around after threatening the party with spilling the beans if he was arrested.
पार्टी में कल के आए नेताओं से 20 साल पुरानी कार्यकर्ता को BJP का एजेंट बता दिया। दो दिन पहले पार्टी ने PC में सब सच क़बूल लिया था और आज U-Turn
ये गुंडा पार्टी को धमका रहा है, मैं अरेस्ट हुआ तो सारे राज़ खोलूँगा। इसलिए ही लखनऊ से लेकर हर जगह शरण में घूम रहा है।
आज उसके दबाव में…
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 17, 2024
Earlier in the day, the AAP posted from its official account on social media platform ‘X’ the video with the message — “Swati Maliwal ka sach (Swati Maliwal’s truth).”
Maliwal retorted on ‘X’, saying “this political hitman has started efforts to save himself”. “By getting his people to tweet and playing videos without any context, he thinks he can save himself? The truth will be revealed as soon as the CCTV footage of the house and the room is checked,” she posted.
Kumar has also lodged a complaint with the police, sharing the details of Maliwal “forcing her way into the CM’s drawing room” despite being stopped at the entry gate. Maliwal initially “lied” to the guards that she had an appointment with the CM, Atishi said.
“Later they found that she does not have any appointment. She threatened them saying she was a Rajya Sabha MP and they could lose their jobs. She demanded that the CM be called immediately. Only then the staff called Bibhav. He told Maliwal about the CM’s unavailability. Then she argued with Bibhav and tried to enter the inside portions of the house. Bibhav stopped her and she pushed him. He then directed the security to escort her out,” Atishi said.
On the party’s initial stand, which was laid out by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on 14 May, Atishi said the party has come to the latest conclusion after listening to Kumar’s account, and “more importantly”, watching the video. The Delhi minister, however, ducked a query on Kejriwal’s silence on the matter.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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