Tensions have been brewing within the AAP, particularly in the relationship between the party and its Rajya Sabha representative, Swati Maliwal. Recent allegations made by Maliwal against a close aide of Delhi's Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, have exacerbated the existing discontent.
Sanjay Singh on Swati Maliwal issue
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is under scrutiny following allegations made by its Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal against an aide of Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of misconduct. Sanjay Singh, a senior leader of the party, announced on Tuesday (14 May) that the aide in question, Bibhav Kumar, had "misbehaved" towards Maliwal and would face “strict action”.
During a press briefing, Singh disclosed that Maliwal had been awaiting a meeting with Kejriwal in his drawing room when Kumar allegedly “disrespected” the Rajya Sabha MP.
“A very condemnable incident took place yesterday morning. Swati Maliwal had gone to Arvind Kejriwal’s residence to meet him. She was waiting in the drawing room when Bibhav Kumar misbehaved and disrespected her. She dialled 112 and informed the police,” Singh stated.
He further mentioned that Kejriwal has “taken cognisance” of the issue and has “directed that strict action be taken”. “Swati Maliwal has worked for the country and society, and she is among the oldest and most senior leaders of the AAP. We are with her. AAP does not support such people (Bibhav),” Singh affirmed.
#WATCH | AAP MP Sanjay Singh says, "Yesterday an incident took place. At the residence of Arvind Kejriwal incident of misbehaviour took place with Swati Maliwal by Vibhav Kumar (Arvind Kejriwal's PA). Swati Maliwal has informed about this incident to the Delhi Police. This is a… pic.twitter.com/l7Hbk4CKEM— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024
What happened?
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Swati Maliwal reported an alleged assault by an individual named Kumar at the Chief Minister's official residence in Delhi, according to a statement from the Delhi Police on Monday.
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Maliwal initially visited the Civil Lines Police Station to file a complaint but left without doing so after receiving phone calls. She indicated her intention to return but has not done so yet.
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The Delhi Police have classified Maliwal's complaint as "pending" and have not yet initiated a formal FIR.
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Police records show that two entries were made in the daily diary regarding Maliwal's call to the PCR, where she claimed she was assaulted on instructions allegedly from Chief Minister Kejriwal.
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The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and demanding an investigation.
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The BJP has raised concerns about the ability of the Delhi government to ensure the safety of women in the National Capital, particularly when its own leaders reportedly face threats at the Chief Minister's residence.
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Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva has called for the arrest of Bibhav Kumar, the individual accused by Maliwal. Sachdeva questioned the silence of AAP leaders on the matter until now, emphasizing the urgency of taking action. He stressed the need for Kumar's immediate arrest and the registration of an FIR based on Maliwal's statement.
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BJP women workers staged protests outside the Chief Minister's residence in Delhi on Wednesday in response to the incident.
Who is Swati Maliwal?
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Swati Maliwal stands out as a key figure within the AAP, boasting a longstanding association with CM Kejriwal that predates the party's inception.
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Following her graduation from college, Maliwal swiftly aligned herself with Kejriwal's NGO Parivartan.
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Originating from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Maliwal joined the 23-member core committee of the Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption movement back in 2011.
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Maliwal gained widespread recognition during her remarkable eight-year tenure as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), assuming the role at the youthful age of 31 in 2015, thus becoming the youngest woman to hold the position.
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Over the course of her tenure, Maliwal diligently addressed over 1.7 lakh cases of crimes perpetrated against girls and women in Delhi, as reported by the DCW.
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Maliwal made headlines for bravely sharing her experiences of "past sexual abuse" by her father and expressing relief upon ending her “bad marriage”.
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Serving as the DCW chairperson until January of the current year, Maliwal transitioned to a new role after being nominated by the AAP to the Rajya Sabha.
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Maliwal has encountered controversy, notably in 2016 when the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) initiated an FIR against her concerning allegations of irregularities in DCW appointments.
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Recently, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena dismissed 52 "illegally appointed" contractual employees of the DCW, a move met with criticism from the AAP Rajya Sabha MP.
Who is Bibhav Kumar?
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Bibhav Kumar, former personal assistant to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, faced termination from his position by the Directorate of Vigilance (DoV) in April this year. The reason cited was a pending case against him for 'obstruction'.
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Special Secretary Vigilance YVVJ Rajshekhar issued the termination order, making reference to a 2007 case where Bibhav Kumar was accused of obstructing government work. The charges against him were serious, including an allegation of assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty.
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Reports suggest that Bibhav Kumar's initial interaction with Arvind Kejriwal dates back to the 'India Against Corruption' movement. During this time, he worked as a video journalist, editing videos for a magazine associated with the movement.
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The Directorate of Vigilance under the Delhi government justified Bibhav Kumar's termination by stating that proper procedural rules were not followed in his appointment. Legislation prohibits the employment of individuals facing criminal charges within the government sector.
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Bibhav Kumar, a trusted aide of Kejriwal, initially served as a private secretary on a co-terminus basis starting in 2015. He was subsequently reengaged in 2020 following the reelection of the AAP government.
Rift between Maliwal and AAP
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Tension between Maliwal and AAP Leadership:
- Recent events have highlighted a growing divide between Maliwal and the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), reportedly evolving over several months.
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Concerns within AAP:
- An anonymous AAP leader expressed dissatisfaction with Maliwal's prolonged absence from Delhi, especially surrounding the time of the Chief Minister's arrest.
- This sentiment was echoed by another party member who noted that Maliwal's absence has led to reservations about her involvement in party campaigns.
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BJP's Criticism:
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised questions about Maliwal's whereabouts during Chief Minister Kejriwal's arrest in a case involving excise policy, particularly her absence from Delhi.
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Maliwal's Explanation:
- Maliwal clarified that she was in the United States during this period to attend to her sister's medical needs.
- However, even upon her return in late April, Maliwal's public appearances were limited, with only occasional attendance at election rallies.
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Campaign Activities:
- On April 26, Maliwal joined Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel in campaigning for the AAP candidate in East Delhi's Lok Sabha constituency, Kuldeep Kumar.
- Subsequently, she supported the party's nominee for West Delhi, Mahabal Mishra, during canvassing activities.
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Absence from Key Events:
- Notably, Maliwal was absent from the AAP platform when Chief Minister Kejriwal delivered his first public address after being released on interim bail from Tihar jail.
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Dismissal of Speculations:
- Senior AAP leaders dismissed speculations suggesting Maliwal's discontent with the party, particularly regarding her purported dissatisfaction over relinquishing her Rajya Sabha membership for the accommodation of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
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Official Denial:
- A prominent AAP figure categorically denied any truth to these speculations, asserting that there is no basis to such claims.
Why has AAP acknowledged ‘misbehavior’ with Maliwal?
The AAP has previously shielded one of Kejriwal’s aides, Bibhav Kumar, from various allegations, including charges of corruption. However, the party chose to publicly rebuke him this time.
Sources indicate that the AAP is keen on safeguarding its support among women voters and does not want to risk alienating them. “At a time when the campaign is at its peak, the party does not want this to become an issue that will drag on. In making a public statement, it has sent the message that Swati’s complaints have not fallen on deaf ears,” stated an AAP leader.
AAP sources speaking to the media clarified that the public reprimand of Kumar was necessary as he had “crossed the line”. They believe that issuing the statement would help “defuse the needless controversy” and appease Maliwal.
Swati Maliwal, the former head of the DCW, has not yet commented on the matter.
Mayawati asks Rajya Sabha Speaker to take note of assault on Maliwal
Mayawati, the President of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has called upon the Rajya Sabha Speaker to address the reported assault on the former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief allegedly by the personal assistant of Kejriwal.
In a social media post, she expressed concern over the incident involving Swati Maliwal, who was assaulted at the chief minister's residence despite being a Rajya Sabha member. Mayawati emphasized the need for swift action in cases concerning women's security and demanded consistency in handling such matters, regardless of political affiliations. She urged all parties to draw inspiration from the BSP's approach to leadership in addressing these issues.
1.महिलाओं की सुरक्षा, सम्मान व उत्पीड़न के साथ ही किसी भी नेता द्वारा अन्य कोई भी गलत कार्य करने पर सख्त कार्रवाई के मामले में चाहे कोई भी पार्टी या इन्डि व अन्य गठबन्धन हो तो इन्हें दोहरा मापदण्ड नहीं अपनाना चाहिए अर्थात् इन्हें बीएसपी के शीर्ष नेतृत्व से ज़रूर सबक लेना चाहिए।— Mayawati (@Mayawati) May 16, 2024
Kejriwal ducks questions on Swati Maliwal in joint presser with Akhilesh
During a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refrained from addressing queries concerning AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal's alleged assault case. The incident purportedly involved Kejriwal's personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar, on May 13.
Despite earlier pledges of "strict action" against Kumar by the party, he was seen with AAP national Convenor Sanjay Singh at Lucknow airport on Wednesday night.
When questioned about the Swati Maliwal controversy during his visit to Lucknow, Kejriwal chose not to respond, opting instead to pass the microphone. In his stead, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav commented on the issue, suggesting that there are more pressing matters facing the nation than the Maliwal incident.
Yadav said, "There are other issues that are more important than this..."
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal refuses to answer when asked about AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal's assault case.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says "There are other issues that are more important than this..." pic.twitter.com/0FDkRiFhrs— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2024
Kejriwal spotted with Bibhav Kumar at airport
Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was reportedly seen accompanying Kejriwal in Lucknow on May 15, just two days following the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, which stirred considerable controversy.
Sanjay Singh, a senior member of AAP, was also captured in the image alongside Kejriwal's aide. Singh had previously acknowledged the incident and assured decisive action from Kejriwal's side. The photograph, purportedly taken at Lucknow airport, surfaced a day after Singh's meeting with Maliwal, who has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
Kejriwal is presently in Lucknow to garner support for INDIA bloc candidates and is scheduled to hold a press conference alongside Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is also a member of the opposition bloc.
NCW summons Bibhav Kumar, asks to appear on May 17
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has requested the presence of Bibhav Kumar, a trusted associate of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, regarding the Swati Maliwal assault case. The NCW has scheduled a hearing for May 17 and has mandated the attendance of all relevant individuals before the commission.
This incident has laid bare the underlying strain between Maliwal and the AAP, although murmurs of dissatisfaction had been circulating for a while.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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