Raaj Kumar Anand, a former member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, expressed strong condemnation for the assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal within the confines of the Delhi Chief Minister's residence, labelling it as disgraceful and a stain on the political landscape.
Swati Maliwal, former head of the Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) and a Rajya Sabha representative for AAP, reportedly faced an attack inside the Chief Minister's residence allegedly orchestrated by Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Arvind Kejriwal, on Monday. She promptly made a PCR call to report the physical assault.
Anand, a former minister in the Kejriwal administration, urged the Delhi Chief Minister to address the issue directly, emphasizing its seriousness. "Maliwal was assaulted in the very drawing room of the Chief Minister’s residence. Arvind Kejriwal owes an explanation on this matter," he asserted.
He further added, "It is incumbent upon the Chief Minister to provide clarity on this matter, rather than deferring to someone who is miles away," taking a swipe at Sanjay Singh's assertion that the assailant would face consequences.
Anand also conveyed to IANS that Swati Maliwal is facing pressure not to file a formal complaint. "When a member of the Rajya Sabha is not safe in the capital, who can claim safety?" he questioned.
Notably, Maliwal initially visited the police station after making the PCR call but deferred filing a complaint, allegedly influenced by certain phone calls, according to eyewitnesses.
Raaj Kumar Anand reiterated his commitment to vocally oppose such assaults and injustices under the Kejriwal administration, along with his supporters. Anand, who recently aligned with the BSP, is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from New Delhi.
Earlier in the day, party workers led by Delhi BJP President Virender Sachdeva staged a demonstration outside Arvind Kejriwal's residence, demanding a comprehensive investigation into Maliwal's assault.
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