Swati Maliwal case: Priyanka Gandhi responds as BJP questions silence

The alleged assault of AAP leader Swati Maliwal amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections gave ammo to the BJP to target the INDIA alliance. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "'Sheeshmahal' has become 'Shoshanmahal' and just like Draupadi's 'cheerharan' took place, Kejriwal was witness to assault and violence on Swati Maliwal, a female Rajya Sabha MP."

Poonawalla further questioned the silence of Congress leaders.

"The question is, why Kejriwal is silent, why is he protecting Bibhav Kumar which means he is behind the assault, not Bibhav Kumar. Where are the INDI alliance members, Priyanka Vadra, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi? Silent on a woman issue," said Poonawalla.

Later in the day, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi spoke on the issue and gave a twofold response. While campaigning in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, Gandhi said that while she would always stand with women this was a matter of the Aam Aadmi Party.

"If any atrocity happens to any woman anywhere, we stand with the woman. I always stand with women, regardless of the party. Secondly, AAP will discuss amid themselves and make a decision. It is up to them," she said.