"CM Kejriwal's deafening silence speaks volumes of his stance on women's safety": Delhi LG VK Saxena on Swati Maliwal assault case

New Delhi [India], May 21 : Following the assault allegations made by Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal against a former aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday said that the silence of the AAP chief on this matter shows his stance about the issue of the safety of women.
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.
Slamming the Aam Aadmi Party for taking a "U-turn" on this incident, Saxena said that it is inexplicable and baffling.
"It is most disturbing to note that the alleged scene of crime was the drawing room of the Chief Minister, even while he was present in the house, and the same was carried out by his closest aide on a lady 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," he said.
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 an issue of women's safety, tarnishe 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 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.
Earlier on Monday, the Delhi Police took Bibhav Kumar to the drawing room of Kejriwal's residence on Monday where Kumar had allegedly assaulted Maliwal, to find out details about the sequence of events that took place on the morning of May 13.
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.
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.