Delhi LG VK Saxena Questions Arvind Kejriwal’s Silence Over Swati Maliwal Assault; AAP Says ‘His Statement Proves Maliwal Is Working for BJP’

New Delhi , May 21: Following Delhi LG VK Saxena's remarks to CM Arvind Kejriwal over Swati Malliwal's alleged assault case, the Aam Aadmi Party said that Saxena's statement proves that Swati Maliwal is working for the BJP.  In a statement issued, AAP said, "LG's statement proves that Swati Maliwal is working for the BJP. The BJP is hatching a new conspiracy every day during elections--sometimes liquor scam, sometimes Swati Maliwal, sometimes false allegations of foreign funding. The BJP will use new tactics every day during the elections. The BJP is losing badly. Modi Ji's sinking ship is taking support of Swati Maliwal."

Earlier today, LG Saxena said that Swati Maliwal has expressed her concerns to him about being subjected to coercion by the Aam Aadmi Party. "Yesterday, she called me out of sheer anguish, describing at length her traumatic experience, and the subsequent intimidation and shaming that she is being subjected to by her own colleagues. She also expressed concerns over the reported tampering of evidence and coercion against her. Although Maliwal has been vociferous, hostile and blatantly partisan towards me and my office, often criticising me unjustifiably, yet any physical violence and hounding perpetrated on her are inexcusable and unacceptable," Lieutenant Governor said. Swati Maliwal Assault Case: CM Arvind Kejriwal's Silence Speaks Volumes About His Stance on Women's Safety, Says Delhi LG VK Saxena

He further said that the Chief Minister is being evasive and dodgy on this matter. "I would have expected that, at least for the sake of propriety, my CM would have come clean, rather than being evasive and dodgy. His deafening silence speaks volumes about his stance on the safety of women," he said. Saxena said that had such an incident happened in any other Chief Minister's residence, it would have tarnished the image of the country. "However, on this issue, there is absence of any outrage".

"Delhi is the national capital and is home to the entire diplomatic community from around the world. Such shameful incidents and the insensitive and contemptuous government response on the issue of women's safety, tarnish India's image worldwide. Had such an incident happened in any other Chief Minister's residence in the country, external forces with vested interests, inimical to India, would have unleashed a scathing global narrative around women's safety in India," he said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has accused party chief Arvind Kejriwal's former personal secretary Bibhav Kumar of assaulting her at the Chief Minister's residence. Bibhav Kumar has lodged a counter-complaint with the police on Friday, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorised entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him. Swati Maliwal Hits Back at AAP Leaders, Says 'Earlier I was Lady Singham, but Now I Have Become BJP Agent?'

Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the Swati Maliwal case. The SIT is headed by North Delhi's Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anjitha Chepyala who has been handling the investigation. Three Inspector-rank officers are also included in the SIT, which includes the officer of the Civil Lines Police Station where the case was registered.