Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Sunday claimed that she has been receiving rape and death threats following a ‘character assassination’ campaign allegedly orchestrated by AAP leaders and volunteers.
She further accused YouTuber Dhruv Rathee of further escalating the hate campaign by posting a ‘one-sided’ video against her.
The AAP MP said that her party officials had been victim shaming and character assassinating her while releasing multiple screenshots of violent remarks and rape threats she had received on social media on her X handle.
“After the leaders and volunteers of my party i.e. AAP orchestrated a campaign of character assassination, victim shaming and fanning of emotions against me, I have been getting rape and death threats. This got further exacerbated when YouTuber @Dhruv_Rathee posted a one-sided video against me,” Maliwal said in the X post.
After the leaders and volunteers of my party i.e. AAP orchestrated a campaign of charachter assassination, victim shaming and fanning of emotions against me, I have been getting rape and death threats.
This got further exacerbated when YouTuber @Dhruv_Rathee posted a one-sided… pic.twitter.com/EfCHHWW0xu
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 26, 2024
The former head of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) also asserted that she is being intimidated by the party leadership into dropping her complaint against Bibhav Kumar, an advisor to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Maliwal also voiced her dissatisfaction with the YouTuber, claiming that she tried to get in touch with him and tell her side of the tale, but he didn’t return her calls or texts. She further charged Rathee with being an AAP spokesman who poses as an independent journalist while victimizing the person.
“As far as the party leadership goes, it is very clear that they are trying to intimidate me into withdrawing my complaint. However, for Dhruv, I tried my best to reach out to him to tell him my version but he ignored my calls and messages. It is shameful that people like him, who claim to be independent journalists could act like other AAP spokespersons and victim shame me to the extent that I am now facing extreme abuses and threats,” she added.
The AAP MP further listed the facts and asked Rathee why he failed to mention that AAP took a U-turn after accepting that the incident happened or talk about her MLC (medicolegal case) report that reveals injuries due to the assault in his 2.5-minute-video.
Maliwal said,”Facts that he failed to mention in his 2.5 minute video against me –
1. Party took a U-turn on its stand after accepting the incident has happened.
2. MLC report that reveals injuries due to the assault.
3. Selected part of the video was released and then phone of the accused was formatted?
4. The accused was arrested from the crime scene (CM house). Why was he allowed to enter the place again? For tampering of evidence?
5. How a woman who always stood for the right issues, even went to Manipur alone without security could be bought over by the BJP?” she added.
Finally, Maliwal announced that she is reporting these death threats and rapes to Delhi Police and asked that the offenders face severe consequences.
“The manner in which the entire party machinery and its supporters have attempted to vilify and shame me speaks volumes about their stand on women’s issues. I am reporting these rape and death threats to @DelhiPolice. I hope they take strong action against the perpetrators,” Maliwal said.
The AAP lawmaker has accused Bibhav Kumar of physically torturing and manhandling her. She alleged that Kumar slapped her seven to eight times, ‘kicked on the chest, stomach, and pelvis area,’ and threatened to kill her when she went to meet Kejriwal at his official residence.
The AAP has denied the allegations, claiming that Maliwal is being “blackmailed” by the BJP to become part of their conspiracy.
Kumar was arrested by the Delhi Police on Saturday after being booked under Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force on woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt)of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is in judicial custody till May 28.
