Swati Maliwal (Image/PTI)

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Saturday recalled the alleged attack on her two years ago when she spoke publicly on the issue after joining the Rajya Sabha. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Maliwal claimed that he was ‘intimidated and threatened’ when he tried to file an FIR against the incident. Speaking to reporters, Maliwal said, “I have left Aam Aadmi Party And joined BJP. Since 2006 I have been working with Arvind Kejriwal And supported him in every movement. But, Arvind Kejriwal got me beaten by a goon in my own house. When I raised my voice against this, I was threatened and immense pressure was put on me to withdraw the FIR. For two years I was not given even a minute to speak in Parliament.”His comments come days after more than two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs resigned from the party and joined the BJP, with Raghav Chadha leading the split.Giving details of the incident, Maliwal alleged that she was attacked by a close aide of Kejriwal at the chief minister’s residence in 2024 and she faced constant pressure to withdraw her complaint.She said, “I left my home, lived in the slums for seven years, left my job and supported every movement. But when I tried to file an FIR after the assault, I was threatened and intimidated. For the last two years, I have been constantly pressurized to withdraw the case, but I did not yield.”He further said that due to his opposition he was sidelined within the party.“Because of this, in the last two years, I have not been given even a minute’s time by the party to present my views in Parliament. This is very shameful. I believe that Arvind Kejriwal is extremely anti-women.”

AAP leadership, Punjab government attacked

Maliwal launched a scathing attack on Kejriwal and the AAP leadership, accusing them of abandoning their founding principles.“They keep accusing us of disloyalty. But what is disloyalty? Disloyalty is when you fail to stick to your core principles. When we started, he spoke thoughts that inspired the nation. But what changed? Only their lifestyle and status have changed,” she said.Taking aim at the party’s functioning in Punjab, he alleged, “AAP is looting Punjab. They don’t see any capable Punjabi for top posts. The goon who attacked me was given Z+ security and made Chief Advisor to Bhagwant Mann.”He also claimed that the state government was being controlled remotely.“Today Punjab has been turned into a private ATM. Illegal sand mining and drug use are rampant and all this is happening under government patronage.”

Praising the leadership of BJP, PM Modi

Explaining his decision to switch sides, Maliwal said that it was not driven by compulsion but by strong conviction.She said, “I am not joining BJP due to any compulsion. Had it been so, I would have joined it two years ago. I am joining thoughtfully because I am deeply impressed by the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and want to work under his leadership.”“Today, he is not only the most popular leader in the country but also one of the most respected leaders globally. I appeal to those who want to do constructive politics to join the BJP,” she said.

Background: 2024 assault case

The controversy dates back to May 2024, when Maliwal had alleged that Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar had attacked him at the chief minister’s residence in Delhi.According to her complaint, she was slapped and kicked several times, forcing her to make a PCR call. A formal FIR was later registered by Delhi Police under sections related to assault, criminal intimidation and outraging modesty. Kumar was arrested and later granted bail, while a counter-complaint was also filed against Maliwal accusing him of unauthorized entry and misconduct.The case sparked a major political storm, with AAP alleging that the police were acting under political pressure, while BJP accused the party of shielding those involved.