'If any atrocity happens...': Priyanka Gandhi reacts to Swati Maliwal assault case

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday responded to a question on the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, saying she will always stand with women if any atrocity is committed.

"If any atrocity happens to any woman anywhere, we stand with the woman. I always stand with women - irrespective of which party they belong to. AAP will discuss amid themselves and make a decision. It is up to them," the Congress leader said in conversation with news agency ANI.

Earlier this week, Maliwal went to the Civil Lines police station and alleged that a member of the Delhi chief minister's personal staff "assaulted" her at the chief minister's official residence. She is yet to file a formal complaint in the matter.

A day after the incident, AAP leader Sanjay Singh addressed a press conference and said the incident with Maliwal was a "highly condemnable" one.

"Yesterday, a condemnable incident took place. Swati Maliwal had gone to Arvind Kejriwal's residence to meet him. While she was waiting for him in the drawing room, Bibhav Kumar allegedly misbehaved with her. The CM has taken cognisance of the matter, and he will take appropriate action," said Sanjay Singh addressing the press.

Kumar is the personal assistant to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Reportedly, Sanjay Singh also met Maliwal after the party accepted that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar "misbehaved" with her.

Sanjay Singh was accompanied by Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) member Vandana Singh during his meeting with Maliwal, PTI reported citing sources. The meeting took place at Maliwal's residence.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has demanded an investigation into the matter. "If such a thing happens to any woman, she should get justice," he told reporters.