Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta made a stinging dig at Leader of Opposition Atishi on Monday, warning her to watch out for her party colleague and former CM Arvind Kejriwal, who has been accused of masterminding an attack on AAP MP Swati Maliwal at his home.
During the final discussion on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on the 'Public Health Infrastructure & Management of Health Services' audit, Gupta made a concerned remark towards Atishi. This followed after Atishi had vigorously defended the health model of the Kejriwal government while raising slogans in the Assembly.
"As a member of the four women in this House, I am truly concerned about your safety," Gupta said. "You are firmly defending Kejriwal and cooperating with him… but remember, this is the same individual who had Swati Maliwal beaten up."
Gupta proceeded to caution Atishi, intimating that if Kejriwal was able to get a member of his own party assaulted in the Rajya Sabha, then she might not be safe either. "Exercise caution while dealing with him," she told her.
Displaying even more empathy for Atishi, Gupta highlighted the fact that she was the one taking all the blame for standing up for Kejriwal in the Assembly. "Where is Kejriwal? He left you on your own here," she said.
Gupta’s statements came after AAP legislators, led by Atishi, staged protests against BJP leaders’ criticism of the CAG report, which highlighted major flaws in Delhi’s hospitals and Mohalla Clinics.
The alleged assault on Maliwal at the Chief Minister’s residence had already become a focal point of BJP’s campaign during the Assembly elections, with the party accusing Kejriwal of being "anti-women."
Maliwal had filed an FIR on May 13, 2024, calling the experience "extremely distressing and traumatic." She blamed Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar for physically assaulting her before pushing her out of the CM's house in north Delhi.
In her complaint, Maliwal explained the incident as follows: "He slapped me at least 7-8 times while I kept screaming for help. I was in shock and kept crying out for help. In an effort to defend myself, I pushed him away with my legs."
She also described the assault, stating, "At that time, he forcefully attacked me, pulled up my shirt intentionally, and the buttons got undone, and my shirt was lifted up."
"I fell and slammed my head on the center table. He did not stop and kept kicking me on the chest, tummy, and below areas while I continued to shout for help," she added.
After the incident, Atishi brushed aside Maliwal's accusations, stating that she was working on behalf of the BJP and had been sent to Kejriwal's home with political motives.
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