AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal revealed that she has been receiving rape and death threats after a campaign of character assassination allegedly orchestrated by party leaders and volunteers. She said that the situation escalated after the YouTuber Dhruv Rathee posted a one-sided video against her.
Maliwal has alleged that Bibhav Kumar, the Personal Assistant of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has assaulted her at the CM’s residence on May 13.
“After the leaders and volunteers of my party, ie, 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 wrote on X on Sunday.
Swati Maliwal alleged that there is significant pressure within the party to discredit her. She claimed that a senior party leader informed her of a campaign to defame her, including leaking personal photos and pressuring party members to speak against her. Maliwal warned that those supporting her might face expulsion from the party.
Maliwal accused the party leadership of trying to intimidate her into withdrawing her complaint. She also expressed disappointment with Dhruv Rathee, saying that despite her efforts to contact him and share her side of the story, “he ignored her calls and messages.”
She said Rathee failed to mention why the AAP took a U-turn after accepting that the incident happened; the MLC report that reveals injuries due to the assault; selected part of the video was released and then the phone of the accused was formatted; the accused was arrested from the crime scene (CM house).
Why was he allowed to enter the place again? For tampering of evidence?; and 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 asked.
