Swati Maliwal is an Indian social activist and the current Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). She has been actively involved in various initiatives and campaigns aimed at addressing issues related to women’s safety, rights, and empowerment.
Who is Swati Maliwal
Background and Career:
Activism
Swati Maliwal has a long history of social activism, particularly focusing on women’s rights and safety. She has been vocal about issues such as sexual harassment, gender violence, and the need for stricter laws to protect women.
Delhi Commission for Women
Appointed as the Chairperson of DCW in July 2015, Maliwal has been instrumental in bringing about significant changes in the commission’s functioning. Under her leadership, DCW has taken up numerous cases related to women’s safety and has pushed for legal and systemic reforms.
Campaigns and Initiatives
Swati Maliwal has led various high-profile campaigns, including the fight against human trafficking, the demand for fast-track courts for rape cases, and initiatives to improve the safety of women in public spaces.
Key Achievements:
Helpline and Crisis Intervention
Under her tenure, DCW has launched a 24/7 helpline to assist women in distress and has conducted numerous rescue operations for women trapped in trafficking and abuse.
Legal Reforms
She has advocated for amendments in laws related to sexual offences and has worked towards ensuring timely justice for victims.
Public Awareness
Maliwal has been active in raising public awareness about women’s issues through media interactions, public rallies, and social media campaigns.
Personal Life:
Swati Maliwal is married to Naveen Jaihind, a political activist associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Her tenure as the DCW Chairperson has been marked by her relentless pursuit of justice and safety for women, making her a prominent figure in the realm of women’s rights activism in India.
Swati Maliwal Fight with AAP
In the midst of a heated dispute between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Swati Maliwal regarding her alleged assault, a new video has surfaced showing the Rajya Sabha MP being escorted out of the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence by security personnel. The AAP has accused Maliwal of orchestrating a drama, pointing out that the video shows her walking calmly without any signs of injury.
This incident follows the release of Maliwal’s medical report by AIIMS, which indicates bruises on her face and leg. The report alleges that these injuries were inflicted by Arvind Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, during an incident at the Chief Minister’s residence on May 13.
In response, Bibhav Kumar has lodged a counter-complaint, asserting that Maliwal is attempting to falsely implicate him to create undue pressure. He alleges that the former Delhi Commission for Women chairperson caused a commotion and tried to assault him after entering the Chief Minister’s residence without authorization.
Latest Developments:
In his complaint, Bibhav Kumar detailed that on May 13, when Swati Maliwal arrived at Kejriwal’s residence around 8:40 am, she was asked by the security officer to identify herself. Maliwal claimed she was a Rajya Sabha MP and was asked to wait while her appointment was verified. The security officer later informed her that there was no appointment recorded, and she could not be allowed entry.
Despite this, Maliwal forcibly entered the residence, making false claims about having an appointment, according to the complaint. She was asked to wait in a designated area outside the main building, but she allegedly started shouting and demanded that the staff confirm her appointment with Kejriwal.
Around 9:00 am, Maliwal reportedly left the waiting area and entered the main building, where Bibhav Kumar found her sitting in the drawing room at 9:22 am. Kumar claims he politely asked her to follow the proper procedure, but Maliwal began to scream and verbally abuse him, ignoring his repeated requests and threatening him with dire consequences if she was not allowed to meet the Chief Minister.
As Maliwal walked further into the residence, Kumar blocked her path, suspecting she intended to harm Kejriwal. She allegedly pushed him, sat on a sofa, and called the Police Control Room, making false accusations against Kumar. Despite Kumar’s requests for her to leave, Maliwal continued to abuse him and the staff before finally exiting around 9:35 am.
Kumar’s complaint suggests that Maliwal’s actions might have been influenced by the BJP, particularly given the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He has requested an investigation into her call records and communications with BJP leaders.
On Friday evening, a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team visited the Chief Minister’s residence for an investigation, accompanied by Delhi Police officers. The FSL team initially left but returned later with additional equipment.
At 6:23 pm, Delhi Police, along with Swati Maliwal, arrived at the Chief Minister’s residence. She left after about 40 minutes of the investigation.
Speaking to ANI, AAP leader Atishi claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Bureau, Income Tax Department, and Economic Offences Wing have been used to pressure opposition leaders to join the BJP. She suggested that a similar tactic was being used against Maliwal, who is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Atishi called for an unbiased investigation into Maliwal’s contacts with BJP members, including their communications on call and WhatsApp.
With inputs from source IndiaToday