Swati Maliwal, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP, revealed on Sunday that she has been receiving rape and death threats following a “character assassination” campaign allegedly orchestrated by party leaders and volunteers. Maliwal claims the situation escalated after YouTuber Dhruv Rathee posted a one-sided video against her.
“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,” Ms. Maliwal wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
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Maliwal accused the party leadership of attempting to intimidate her into withdrawing her complaint. She also expressed disappointment with Dhruv Rathee, stating that despite her efforts to contact him and share her side of the story, he ignored her 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 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.
Ms. Maliwal outlined several points she felt were neglected in Dhruv Rathee’s 2.5-minute video:
- The AAP’s U-turn after initially accepting that the incident occurred.
- The MLC report revealing injuries due to the assault.
- The selective release of video footage and the subsequent formatting of the accused’s phone.
- The arrest of the accused from the crime scene (Chief Minister’s house) and the questionable allowance for him to re-enter the premises, potentially for evidence tampering.
- The incongruity of accusations against a woman who has consistently stood for the right issues, even traveling alone to Manipur without security, suggests she could be bought over by the BJP.
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.
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 26, 2024
This got further exacerbated when YouTuber @Dhruv_Rathee posted a one-sided… pic.twitter.com/EfCHHWW0xu
“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.
She concluded by noting, “In any case, if something happens to me, we know who instigated it.”
The controversy stems from an incident involving Bibhav Kumar, a former personal secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kumar was arrested on May 18 in connection with an assault on Maliwal at Kejriwal’s residence on May 13. On Saturday, Kumar moved a local court seeking bail, prompting the court to issue a notice to Delhi Police and seek its reply.
The allegations and threats Maliwal has reported have intensified the scrutiny of AAP’s internal dynamics and its handling of women’s safety issues, raising questions about the party’s commitment to protecting its members from such severe harassment and intimidation.
