Swati Maliwal accuses Bhagwant Mann of ‘alcoholism’, seeks probe into ‘blasphemous’ videos

Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has written a letter to party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, demanding an investigation into alleged “blasphemous” videos linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

 

Maliwal, who has been at loggerheads with the party leadership ever since she filed an assault case against an aide of Kejriwal last year, claimed that Mann is seen insulting Sikh Gurus in the video that is doing the rounds on social media.

 

“A video of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann that is objectionable is going viral on social media. The person who has made this video go viral is said to be an old friend of CM Mann. The individual is claiming that he has eight more such videos,” she said.

 

Maliwal has shared a copy of the letter on her X page. She alleged that Mann’s “shameful” conduct has brought a lot of disrepute to the party. 

 

“If the videos are real, action must be initiated and taken against CM Mann. And, if they are AI-generated, those disseminating fake videos must be brought to book,” she said.

 

The MP further launched a sharp attack on the chief minister, accusing him of ‘alcoholism’. She said Mann has the habit of holding government meetings and press conferences in an inebriated state, so a probe into the ‘viral’ videos is essential.

 

“The public discourse around the issue is causing huge damage to the image of the party and the trust that people have placed in us. The truth must come out without delay,” she said.

 

The Rajya Sabha MP fell out with the AAP leadership last year after she alleged that Bibhav Kumar, a close aide of Kejriwal, assaulted her at the then chief minister's official residence on May 13.

 

The party dismissed her allegations even as the Delhi Police arrested Kumar and launched an investigation.

India