Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's silence on the recent allegations of assault against his former aide, Bibhav Kumar, has drawn sharp criticism from Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Saxena believes Kejriwal's lack of response highlights his stance on women's safety, especially concerning the case involving Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal.
Swati Maliwal, who has accused Bibhav Kumar of assaulting her at the Chief Minister's residence, reached out to the Lieutenant Governor in distress. According to Saxena, Maliwal described her traumatic experience and the subsequent intimidation and shaming she faced from her colleagues within the AAP. Despite her previous criticisms of Saxena, he emphasised that any form of physical violence and coercion against her is inexcusable.
Saxena criticised the Aam Aadmi Party for its inconsistent response to the incident. Initially, the party appeared to support Maliwal's claims, but later retracted its stance, which Saxena found baffling. He noted that the alleged assault occurred in the Chief Minister's drawing room while Kejriwal was present in the house. The fact that the assault was carried out by one of Kejriwal's closest aides on a woman alone is deeply troubling to Saxena.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed his disappointment in Kejriwal's evasive behaviour, stating that the Chief Minister's silence on the matter speaks volumes about his stance on women's safety. Saxena pointed out that if such an incident had occurred at another Chief Minister's residence, it would have caused significant outrage and potentially tarnished the country's image.
Saxena also highlighted the international implications of this incident, given that Delhi is home to the entire diplomatic community. He stressed that the insensitive response from the government on such a critical issue of women's safety could damage India's reputation worldwide.
Swati Maliwal's allegations have led to a significant investigation. On Monday, Delhi Police took Bibhav Kumar to the drawing room of Kejriwal's residence to recreate the sequence of events that allegedly took place on May 13. Bibhav Kumar, however, has lodged a counter-complaint, accusing Maliwal of unauthorised entry and verbal abuse at the Chief Minister's residence.
In response to the incident, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case. The SIT is led by North Delhi's Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anjitha Chepyala and includes three Inspector-rank officers. The investigation is being conducted from the Civil Lines Police Station where the case was initially registered.
This case has brought significant attention to the issue of women's safety in political circles and the responsibilities of leaders in addressing such allegations transparently and effectively. The outcome of the SIT's investigation will be crucial in determining the next steps and ensuring justice for the parties involved.
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