'Lived in slums': Swati Maliwal recalls struggles she endured for AAP, explains BJP move

Maliwal alleged that AAP refused to stand with her when she was allegedly beaten up at Arvind Kejriwal's residence.

New Delhi: Former AAP MP Swati Maliwal said that she ditched the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the BJP because Arvind Kejriwal and his aides refused to stand with her when she was allegedly beaten up at the former CM's residence.

Maliwal is among the seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, led by Raghav Chadha, who joined the BJP on Friday. She was in Itanagar when Chadha officially announced the decision.

“For the party, I left my home, quit my job and lived in the slums of Delhi for seven years. I supported every movement and cause of the party. But when I tried to file an FIR after being assaulted and beaten up at Kejriwal’s residence by his aide, no one took my side,” Maliwal told PTI. She said that she was “threatened and pressured” to withdraw her case.

“For two years, I was put under pressure to take my case back, but I did not bow down. Because of this, I was not given even a minute to speak in Parliament by the party,” she said.

Maliwal said that she was never “scared” of anyone and could have joined the party two years ago had she wanted to.

“Today, Kejriwal has left the ideals of the Aam Admi Party, and while he wore torn pants at one time, today he lives in a Rs 150 crore house himself. No one can work with him anymore,” she said.

Maliwal also stated that she was "inspired" by the ideals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which moved her to join the saffron party.