MP Swati Maliwal alleges rape, death threats after AAP’s ‘character assassination’ campaign

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Sunday (May 26) hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party stating that she was receiving death and rape threats on social media after the party leaders and campaigners allegedly orchestrated a "character assassination" campaign against her.

Taking to her official X account, she shared snapshots of DM's filled with abusive comments and said that the situation worsened 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_Ratheeposted a one-sided video against me,” Maliwal wrote on X.

She then accused the party leadership of making repeated attempts to intimidate her into withdrawing the complaint.

The woman MP further slammed Rathee and said that despite her repeated efforts to get in touch with him to share her side of the story, the YouTuber 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.

Expressing disappointment, in her post, she highlighted several pointers that made her feel neglected in Rathee's 2.5-minute video.

She claimed that the YouTuber did not 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?"

“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,” she further said.

She further alleged that in the coming days, if anything happens to her, the world would know who instigated it.

"In any case, if something happens to me, we know who all instigated it," she said.

Maliwal had accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar of alleged assault at the CM's residence earlier this month.

Kumar was arrested on May 18 in connection with the case.

(With input from agencies)