Swati Maliwal alleges victim shaming by AAP, says 'ready to undergo polygraph test'

In a new twist to the high-voltage political drama gripping Indian capital New Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal broke her silence over AAP terming her assault allegations as part of a political conspiracy hatched by the ruling BJP, stating that she was ready to undergo a polygraph test.

Maliwal, who levelled the assault allegations against Bibhav Kumar, the assistant of AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,lashed out at the party for victim shaming, calling it "a huge blow to the entire women's movement."

"If I am wrong then I am ready to undergo a polygraph test and I want the police to do it," she said in an interview to ANI news agency.

"Everything will be clear then. I want the police to conduct a polygraph test on me because how can I live with this realisation that a girl who has always given courage to girls to fight, today you have portrayed me as one that have made false allegations before the whole world," said the the former Delhi Commission for Women chief.

She also questioned the credibility of the video clips released by AAP that purportedly showed Maliwal engaging in an argument with the security personnel at the CM's residence on the day the alleged incident took place.

"Now they are raising questions that look at the CCTV footage, look how she is walking, she is walking fine. In the edited video also, she is sitting at ease. So I want to know, if you get beaten up, what will be your first reaction? You're very agitated. Obviously, there is pain but there is agitation which takes you over there is very high adrenaline also running through your body," she said. "According to the Delhi Police, it is being said that the CCTV footage has not reached them till now. So is this CCTV footage fully correct? Or is it doctored?"

"And on top of it, I am still walking, limping after four days. So anyone who has been hurt will understand this, when the wound is fresh you can freely walk or run, and when the wound gets settled then the pain kicks in. So now whatever they are saying that first she was walking really fast and now look she is limping and all. I feel that there could be no worse victim shaming than this. The sad part is that a lady minister of Delhi has said that look, her clothes are torn, look, there are no wounds on her head. That was all left to do maybe, should have got it also done," she added.

AAP's reaction on Swati Maliwal's allegations

Her remarks come after AAP minister Atishi claimed that Maliwal went to the CM's residence on May 13, the day of the alleged assault, without an appointment.

"Why did she barge in? Why did she land up at the chief minister's residence without an appointment? Arvind Kejriwal was busy that day and did not meet her. If he had met her that day, the allegations levelled against Bibhav Kumar could have been levelled against him," Atishi said.

Maliwal had filed a complaint againstBibhav Kumar on May 14, a day after the alleged incident took place.

Kumar lodged a counter-complaint with the police, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorised entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him.

(With inputs from agencies)