Aam Aadmi Party's march to BJP office stopped by police; Kejriwal accuses BJP of 'operation broom'

NEW DELHI: Police stopped the Aam Aadmi Party's march to the BJP office. The march was led by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party President Arvind Kejriwal. Although the police personnel were told to leave, they remained stationed there.

Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Modi government is trying to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party because Modi fears the growth of AAP. He claimed that the party's accounts will be frozen immediately and accused the BJP of conducting 'Operation Jhaadu' (operation broom) within the Aam Aadmi Party.

The march was organized to protest the arrest of Kejriwal's confidant, Bibhav Kumar, in the case of assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. Section 144 was imposed in Delhi after the march was announced. Metro stations were also closed to prevent more protesters from arriving.

Kejriwal also claimed that only the Aam Aadmi Party can provide good governance in Haryana and Delhi. He said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power, they will give free electricity to the poor and Rs. 1,000 to women.

Bibhav Kumar was taken into custody by the Delhi Police from the Chief Minister's residence yesterday afternoon. After questioning at the police station, he was arrested.

Bibhav, who hails from Bihar, is Kejriwal's former personal secretary. He had vacated the post earlier following a vigilance case. In the MP's complaint, it is stated that on May 13, Bibhav beat Swati Maliwal several times and kicked her in the chest and stomach at the Chief Minister's residence. The police have informed that Bibhav Kumar tried to destroy the evidence.

The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that the BJP threatened and used Swati Maliwal over a case registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau when she was chairperson of the Delhi Women's Commission.

Bibhav Kumar had filed a complaint at the Civil Lines police station alleging that Swati Maliwal had forcibly entered the Chief Minister's residence. According to the complaint, she came to attack Kejriwal and when he objected, a fight broke out. A new CCTV video of Swati being taken out of the residence by the police has emerged. This is the scene from the day of the incident. There were no signs of injury on Swati's body. A few days ago, the investigation team reached Kejriwal's house and seized the CCTV footage. The crime scene may be recreated.