Kejriwal anti-women, known for gundagardi: Swati Maliwal after joining BJP
NEW DELHI, APR 25 :A day after joining the BJP in a massive setback to Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, Swati Maliwal blasted the former Delhi Chief Minister and heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She called Kejriwal “anti-women” who is involved in corruption and “gundagardi (hooliganism)”, adding that PM Modi, on the other hand, makes historic decisions. “I joined the BJP not under any compulsion, but because I believe in the leadership of PM Modi. I urge all those who want to do constructive politics to join the BJP,” she told news agency ANI.
Referencing the 2024 incident wherein Maliwal was allegedly thrashed by Kejriwal’s personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, at the CM’s house, she said, “I have left the AAP and joined the BJP. Since 2006, I have been working with Arvind Kejriwal and supported him during every agitation. However, Arvind Kejriwal had me beaten up by a goon in my own house. I was threatened when I raised my voice against it, and he put immense pressure on me to withdraw the FIR I lodged regarding this incident. I was denied any opportunity by the party to speak in Parliament for two years; this is very shameful. Arvind Kejriwal is anti-women.”
Maliwal claimed that the AAP is now turning Punjab, the only state where the party is in power currently, into its “personal ATM”. She further alleged that those who raise voices against the party face FIRs.
“Arvind Kejriwal is known for corruption and ‘gundagardi’. On the other hand, we have PM Modi, who is the most popular leader in the world. Be it during Operation Sindoor, when we killed enemies by entering their homes and ending Naxalism in the nation, or introducing the women’s reservation bill in Parliament, PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have taken historic decisions for the development of the nation,” she told ANI.
Countering AAP’s “traitor” jibe at Maliwal and six other AAP MPs in Rajya Sabha who quit the party and merged with the BJP on Friday, she said that Kejriwal is the real traitor. She said that when the former Delhi CM began his anti-corruption movement in 2011, he would wear torn pants, use a 2-rupee pen and drive around in a completely dilapidated car. However, after coming to power, she alleged, he built a house worth Rs 100 crore, in a reference to the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy.
“We were all inspired, thinking that this man would bring change to the country. During the movement, he showed the entire country so many big, sweet dreams, and the country was impressed. But what did he do? As soon as he came to power, he built a house worth a hundred crores. He added a bar, installed carpets worth crores, and bought a refrigerator costing lakhs and crores. His sofa is so luxurious,” Swati Maliwal told ANI.
She alleged that following defeat in the national capital, the AAP’s corruption has now moved to Punjab.
“The man they had me beaten up by was given Z-plus security. Today, he’s been appointed Bhagwant Mann’s chief advisor…The man who used to speak out against VIP protocol, when his convoy moves out, we’re counting 50 cars, but it goes above 50. So, what constitutes treason? I call acting against one’s core principles treason. And there’s no bigger traitor than Arvind Kejriwal.”
Raghav Chadha, along with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, held a surprise press conference on Friday, in which they announced their exit from the AAP. They said as many as seven MPs, including themselves, will merge with the BJP. Maliwal and Harbhajan Singh were among the names.
The AAP lashed out at the MPs, with Sanjay Singh calling them “traitors” and blaming the BJP for poaching legislators under the ‘Operation Lotus’.
-PTI
