Nirbhaya's Mother Backs AAP MP Swati Maliwal, Seeks Stringent Action Against Kejriwal's Aide

Asha Devi, the mother of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim, has urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to support AAP MP Swati Maliwal, who has accused his close aide of assaulting her.

Speaking to news agency IANS, Asha Devi emphasised Maliwal's history of fighting against atrocities on women as the former Delhi Commission for Women chief and called on Kejriwal to ensure strict action is taken against the accused.

"AAP came to power in Delhi while tapping on the anger and outrage of people in the Nirbhaya case. If Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal is not safe, then what could one expect for common women," Asha Devi stated.

She urged Kejriwal to support his MP and ensure that "Swatiji gets justice."

"He (Arvind Kejriwal) should take action against this. He is the chief minister of Delhi. He calls himself the brother and son of the people of Delhi. Keeping that in mind, he should speak out and take stringent action against the accused," she added.

Maliwal expressed gratitude to Asha Devi for her support.

"Nirbhaya's mother has fought a long battle for justice in the country. Even when I was on a hunger strike to punish child rapists, she supported me. Today, she made this video in support of me. I am very touched," Maliwal said in a post on X.

"But some leaders will call her a BJP agent for supporting me!" Maliwal remarked, referring to AAP leader Atishi's allegation that the AAP MP was part of a BJP "conspiracy" against Kejriwal.

Maliwal's accusations against Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar have caused a political uproar.

She alleged that Kumar had kicked her in the chest, stomach, and pelvic area before "brutally dragging" her at the chief minister's residence on 13 May.

Kejriwal, who initially remained silent on the matter, has called for a fair investigation into the incident, noting that there are two versions of the event.

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