Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his silence on the alleged assault of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal by a personal staff member. Sitharaman accused the AAP of being anti-women, citing other instances of alleged attacks against women by its leaders. The controversy erupted ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has sparked outrage among opposition parties.
As campaigning ramps up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, major political parties – the BJP, Congress, and AAP – have released their respective lists of ‘guarantees’ to attract voters. These guarantees cover a wide range of issues such as unemployment, inflation, healthcare, education, agriculture, and corruption. The BJP’s ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ emphasizes continuing and expanding existing government schemes, while the Congress’ ‘Paanch Nyay’ focuses on introducing new policies and fulfilling popular demands. The AAP’s ‘Kejriwal ki 10 Guarantee’ draws inspiration from its governance model in Delhi, promising free utilities, employment, and other benefits. A Lokniti-CSDS pre-poll survey reveals that unemployment and price rise are key concerns for voters, while corruption and class divide are also pressing issues. The guarantees offered by the parties address these concerns to varying degrees.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has filed an FIR against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, alleging that she was physically assaulted by him. Maliwal has accused Kumar of slapping, hitting her on the stomach, and kicking her. The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from political leaders and activists.
Delhi Police visited the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal to gather details of an alleged assault that occurred at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. The incident came to light after Maliwal called the police from Kejriwal’s residence to report the assault allegedly committed by his personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar. Investigations are ongoing, and Kumar is scheduled to appear before the court on May 17, 2024.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be added as a co-accused in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy. The move comes after the ED alleged that Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal demanded a ₹100-crore bribe, leading to the generation of illegal funds.
The ED’s allegations stem from evidence that Kejriwal allegedly stayed in a seven-star hotel and incurred lakhs of rupees in expenses. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, questioned the maintainability of Kejriwal’s plea under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED also raised concerns over Kejriwal’s claim that he would not face imprisonment if people vote for him.
The Supreme Court defended its bail order for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, emphasizing that they made no exceptions and acted based on what they deemed justified. The court also dismissed objections raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding Kejriwal’s statement about avoiding jail if his party wins the election.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that the BJP, if elected to power after the Lok Sabha polls, intends to amend the Constitution and eliminate reservation policies. This claim was made during a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav. Kejriwal further expressed his belief that the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, would be replaced if the party regained power, while Yadav stated that the BJP had already suffered defeats in the initial phases of the Lok Sabha elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed concerns that the Supreme Court’s interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an excise policy case may be perceived as special treatment. Shah stated that the judgment was not a routine judicial order and that many believe Kejriwal received preferential treatment. The minister also criticized Kejriwal’s comments in an election rally, which Shah interpreted as contempt of the Supreme Court. Shah further dismissed claims by AAP leaders that the central government had monitored Kejriwal in jail, emphasizing that the Tihar jail is under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Shah asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will remain the BJP’s leader until 2029 and beyond.
Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised questions about the involvement of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the silence of the AAP alliance. BJP members have demanded an investigation into the incident, which occurred at the Chief Minister’s residence, and have accused Kejriwal of inaction. The party has also highlighted the lack of an FIR being filed and the pressure being exerted on the victim.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal by an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. According to Maliwal, the incident occurred in the presence of Kejriwal himself. BJP leaders Bansuri Swaraj and Anurag Thakur have criticized the incident, questioning the safety of women in AAP’s presence. Arvinder Singh Lovely, former Delhi Congress chief, has also raised concerns about the ability of AAP to ensure national safety if they cannot guarantee security within their own accommodations.
