The conflict escalates as Delhi’s power struggle takes centre stage in the midst of allegations of assault.
A Controversial Occurrence
In a shocking turn of events, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, V.K. Saxena, has criticised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his “deafening silence” on the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal, who is a member of the Rajya Sabha and represents the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The incident, which is said to have taken place on May 13th within the limits of the official mansion of the Chief Minister, has sparked a great deal of controversy and accusations from individuals on both sides of the political divide.
According to Saxena’s statement, Maliwal reached out to him in a state of despair, describing the horrible experience she had gone through and expressing her fears about the possibility of evidence tampering and coercion directed against her. In addition to the tensions that were already simmering between the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi government that is governed by the AAP, this claim has added fuel to the fire.
Tensions that are rising and countercharges being made
In a blistering attack, Saxena argued that Kejriwal’s failure to respond to the situation tarnishes India’s reputation around the world, particularly with regard to the protection of women. He emphasised that Delhi, which serves as the nation’s capital, is the location of the whole diplomatic community. He also mentioned that instances of this nature, in conjunction with a response from the government that is “insensitive and conspiratorial,” have the ability to damage the reputation of the nation on a global scale.
The Lieutenant Governor voiced further dismay over the fact that the alleged assault took place in the drawing room of the Chief Minister, ostensibly in his presence, and was carried out by one of the Chief Minister’s closest aides against a woman who was alone herself at the time.
The AAP, on the other hand, has vigorously disputed these charges, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the matter for the purpose of gaining electoral support. Maliwal’s motivations were called into question by Saurabh Bhardwaj, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party and a minister in Delhi. Bhardwaj asserted that Maliwal ought to have acknowledged the BJP’s attempts to capitalise on the situation for political gain.
Accusations and denials woven together in a complex web
Furthermore, Bhardwaj referred to a previous incident that involved Maliwal, in which she claimed that she was the victim of an attempt to kidnap her against her will, and he questioned the inaction of the Delhi Police at the time. He insinuated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had initially made fun of Maliwal, but that they are now using the current situation to their advantage in order to gain political power before the forthcoming elections.
An unambiguous stance has been taken by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): they have accused Maliwal of conspiring with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that the BJP is using a variety of strategies, including the current incident, to weaken the AAP’s chances of winning elections.