New Delhi: Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday for his silence regarding the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal, accusing him of accompanying the accused, Bibhav Kumar, “shamelessly.”
Speaking at a press conference held at the BJP headquarters, Sitharaman called for Kejriwal, the AAP convener, to address the issue and issue an apology. She pointed out previous allegations of attacks on women involving AAP leaders, including Lok Sabha candidate Somnath Bharti, characterizing the party as anti-women.
In a jibe at the Congress, the Finance Minister remarked that members of the Gandhi family would support Bharti, who faced accusations of assaulting his pregnant wife.
Sitharaman highlighted the presence of accused Bibhav Kumar with Kejriwal in Lucknow just a day after AAP MP Sanjay Singh pledged action in the Maliwal case.
“It is both unbelievable and unacceptable that Kejriwal has not uttered a word on the assault against his party’s female MP,” she emphasized.
Swati Maliwal alleges that a member of Kejriwal’s personal staff assaulted her at the chief minister’s official residence. The Delhi Police registered an FIR in the matter on Thursday, naming Kumar as a suspect in the case.
