Swati Maliwal Accuses Kejriwal's Ministers of Weakening Women’s Panel

Former DCW chief Swati Maliwal claims Delhi government ministers are weakening the women’s panel. In her letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, she highlighted unpaid staff salaries, budget cuts, and vacant positions. Maliwal urged Kejriwal to address these issues and accused his aide of assault.

Former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal has penned a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing his ministers and officers of diminishing the women's panel's efficacy. Maliwal, who resigned from her position following her nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the Aam Aadmi Party, claims that the staff has not received salaries for the last six months and that the panel's budget has been slashed by 28.5 percent.

In her letter, Maliwal detailed that the 181 women's helpline has been withdrawn, and that no steps have been taken to fill the vacancies for the chairman and two members. She criticized the Delhi government's actions, alleging that every effort is being made to weaken the commission post her resignation.

Responding to these claims, Delhi Women and Child Development Minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the 181 helpline will now be managed by his department and will be briefly inactive during the transition. The central government has mandated that this helpline be run by the Department of Women and Child Development rather than the DCW. Additionally, Maliwal accused Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar of assault, and Kumar is currently in judicial custody.