The recent events surrounding Swati Maliwal have put Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an uncomfortable position.
During a press conference held alongside Akhilesh Yadav, Kejriwal found himself dodging questions pertaining to the issue, choosing instead to pass the microphone to AAP MP Sanjay Singh.
Singh dodged questions thrown at him regarding the incident in which Maliwal was allegedly manhandled by Delhi Police officers while standing in support of protesting female wrestlers. Instead, he sought to divert the questions towards other incidents of violations of women's rights, such as the cases in Manipur, the Prajwal Revanna sex scandal, and the cases in Hathras and Unnao.
On May 13, Swati Maliwal, former chief of the Delhi Commission for Women, was allegedly assaulted at Kejriwal's official residence by his personal assistant Bibhav Kumar. This incident, which took place within the CM's residence, involving his personal assistant, has handed opposition parties ammunition against Kejriwal, especially amidst ongoing elections.
The deafening silence of Kejriwal on the matter is baffling. There are questions on why he did not intervene or take action, as he was present at the scene of the crime.
What makes matters murkier is the silence of Maliwal herself. As a prominent advocate of women's rights, her silence is deafening.
During a recent event where Akhilesh Yadav shared a platform with AAP leaders, no new substantial information was forthcoming for public consumption.
Kejriwal repeated old claims of the retirement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the takeover by Amit Shah, which Shah has denied. He also made claims of the removal of the UP Chief Minister if BJP won elections and the removal of reservations.
Kejriwal urged UP voters to vote for the INDIA bloc candidates before suddenly winding up the press conference.
Akhilesh Yadav was mum on the Maliwal issue, preferring to train his guns on the BJP, saying that post-elections, the BJP leaders will spread lies.
He also pointed out the fact that the difference between the population of the country and the projected seats of BJP, which is nominal, shows that the party lacks public support.
