Amit Shah Highlights Kejriwal's Silence in Swati Maliwal Assault Incident

BJP President J.P. Nadda recently launched a scathing critique of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, focusing on the alleged assault of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal within the Chief Minister's residence. Nadda accused Kejriwal of exhibiting "double character and dual standards" due to his silence on the matter for four days. This accusation came to light during a roadshow in the New Delhi constituency, where Nadda was campaigning for BJP candidate Bansuri Swaraj.

The BJP leader expressed confidence in the party's prospects under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, predicting a sweeping victory in the upcoming elections. He estimated that the BJP would secure over 370 seats, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surpassing 400 seats. Nadda highlighted the significant support for the BJP in Delhi, suggesting a shift in voter allegiance from the AAP to the BJP.

Nadda criticized the AAP's foundation and leadership, accusing them of being rooted in dishonesty. He referenced the incident involving Maliwal as an example of the issues within the AAP, questioning how many similar incidents might have gone unnoticed. The BJP president also recalled an earlier incident where the chief secretary of the Delhi government was allegedly assaulted at Kejriwal's residence, further questioning Kejriwal's leadership style.

During a press conference on May 16 in Lucknow, alongside Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, Kejriwal avoided questions regarding the incident involving Maliwal. The question was instead addressed by Yadav and AAP MP Sanjay Singh. This avoidance added to Nadda's criticisms of Kejriwal's handling of sensitive issues.

The allegations against AAP members date back to February 2018 when then Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash claimed he was assaulted by AAP MLAs at Kejriwal's residence, in the presence of both the Chief Minister and then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. This history of allegations contributes to Nadda's narrative of a pattern of misconduct within the AAP leadership.

Nadda's comments reflect a broader political strategy by the BJP to highlight controversies surrounding their opponents while emphasizing their own electoral strengths and leadership stability under Modi. As election fervor intensifies, such exchanges underscore the heated competition between major political parties in India.