Delhi's Lt Governor V K Saxena extended his support for AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal through an official statement where he also called out Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's 'deafening silence' on the matter.
Saxena's remarks have come days after the arrest of an aide of Kejriwal by the Delhi Police, following allegations of assault lodged against him by the Maliwal on May 13 at the Chief Minister's official residence.
What Did LG VK Saxena Say?
In a statement on X by Raj Niwas, Saxena said the Delhi Police is investigating the matter and it will be brought to its "logical conclusion."
Saxena wrote, "I have been deeply distressed over the unfolding media narrative over the last few days on the issue of alleged assault on Ms Swati Maliwal, MP, Aam Aadmi Party, at the residence of Chief Minister, when she went there to meet him all alone."
Further Saxena revealed about his conversation with Maliwal regarding the incident, he stated, "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 reported tampering of evidence and coercion against her."
He also called the alleged U-turn by the party on the matter "baffling."
On Kejriwal, Saxena said, "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 of his stance on safety of women."
"Delhi is the national capital and is home to the entire diplomatic community from around the world and "such shameful incidents and the insensitive and conspiratorial contemptuous government response, on an issue of women safety, tarnishes India’s image worldwide," he added.
Further Saxena condemning Kejriwal said, "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 safety in India. The absence of any outrage in this case leaves several questions unanswered."
Speaking of the relationship Saxena and Maliwal shared so far, he said, she has been "vociferous", "hostile" and "blatantly partisan towards me and my office, often criticizing me unjustifiably" even though he rooted for her.
Saxena said it was "most disturbing" that the alleged scene of crime was the drawing room of the Chief Minister, even while he was allegedly present in the house, and that it was carried out by his "closest aide" on a woman who was alone.
"Her fellow member of Rajya Sabha confirmed her narrative in full media glare, and assured that the CM would take firm action against the culprit -- his aide.
"Subsequently, a total U turn was done in the matter, apparently at the behest of the highest functionary. This too is inexplicable and baffling," he said.
On May 14, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh had said that the incident with Maliwal was "highly condemnable" and claimed that Kumar had "misbehaved" with her.
Days later, Atishi, in a press conference, termed the case a "BJP conspiracy" to frame Kejriwal and called Maliwal its "face."
How Has AAP Reacted?
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) reacted to Saxena's statement when they alleged that it proved that swati Maliwal has been colluding with BJP.
The party reportedly stated, "Sometimes they rake up the excise policy case, sometimes the Swati Maliwal incident and sometimes the allegation of party receiving foreign funding. BJP will use new tactics against us till polls. BJP is losing the polls badly and they are trying to lift their status using the Maliwal issue."
Further slamming Maliwal, AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj referred to an older incident of harassment faced by Maliwal and how BJP had reacted to it, he said, "A few years ago, Swati Maliwal was standing on the road at night when a man tried to pull her into his car. She even made videos of the incident. What did the Delhi Police do in that case? Did the Delhi Police form an SIT for that case? The BJP mocked Swati Maliwal in that case."
He added, "Now, before the elections, the BJP is just playing politics over Bibhav Kumar. Doesn't Swati understand that this is being politicised?" Bhardwaj said.
(With PTI inputs)
