More important issues than Swati Maliwal: Akhilesh Yadav

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said that there are more important issues to be addressed than Swati Maliwal.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was addressing a joint press conference with Akhilesh, refrained from commenting on Swati Maliwal assault case and instead passed the microphone to Sanjay Singh, a senior party member, to respond to the media's inquiries.

"There are other issues that are more important than this," Akhilesh Yadav responded when asked about Swati Maliwal case.

The incident in question involves allegations that Bibhav Kumar, an aide to CM Kejriwal, assaulted Swati Maliwal, the former chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, at the chief minister's residence.

Initially, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) remained silent on the matter. However, they later acknowledged the incident, with Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, stating that the chief minister had taken appropriate notice of the situation and that stringent action would be taken.

Maliwal served as the chief of the Delhi Commission for Women before becoming a Rajya Sabha MP.

Meanwhile, BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala criticized Akhilesh Yadav's remarks and claimed that AAP was intentionally shielding Bibhav Kumar.

"Shameful. When asked about Swati Maliwal Akhilesh Yadav says “Is se zyada zaroori cheez bhi hai”. Sanjay Singh diverts on questions about Bibhav Kumar seen with Kejriwal. Kejriwal pushes away mic. Shameless. It is clear that Sheesh Mahal attack was done at behest of Kejriwal hence they are protecting Bibhav Kumar, no FIR for 72 hours by AAP, pushing journalists, silencing Swati Maliwal!," Shehzad said in a post on X.

"Why are Priyanka Vadra & Sonia ji silent," he asked.

On Thursday, BJP functionaries and workers, including activists of the party’s women wing, staged a protest near the chief minister’s residence, demanding a probe into the incident.



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