AAP Launches 'Mahila Adalat' Campaign Amid Criticism Over Women's Safety Politics

New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) On the 12th anniversary of the horrific Nirbhaya gangrape, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday unveiled a campaign known as ‘Mahila Adalat’ aimed at spotlighting crimes against women in Delhi. This initiative faced severe backlash from the opposition parties, BJP and Congress, who branded it a political ploy.

The AAP Mahila Adalat was held at Thyagraj Stadium, where the party's former chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, initiated discussions on women's safety, emphasizing the allegedly inadequate law enforcement in the capital.

In addition to AAP leaders, the event saw attendance from Samajwadi Party President and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav.

Chief Minister Atishi expressed in a post on X, “For how long will the daughters and women of Delhi live in the shadow of fear? Even today, women in the capital do not feel secure enough to step out. There are three to four rapes every day, more than 11 kidnappings, and over 14,000 crimes against women each year.”

“These figures are not mere statistics; they depict the grim reality of the BJP-led Central government that has failed to uphold law and order in Delhi! The primary responsibility of the BJP-led Central government is to ensure the safety of Delhi's residents and women, but they have utterly failed in this regard,” she stated.

“Now, through the Mahila Court, women will assert their voices for safety, dignity, and rights. The women of Delhi will no longer remain silent,” wrote CM Atishi.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Devender Yadav remarked that it is ironic that Kejriwal, who rose to power by leveraging the Nirbhaya incident, was now compelled to conduct a “Mahila Adalat” for women's safety 11 years after establishing his first government.

“This is a clear admission of his failure to protect women, and he is deflecting responsibility onto others,” said Yadav.

He added that the safety and security of women in Delhi have been compromised for a long time, and Kejriwal should have addressed this issue with the Union Home Minister much earlier, rather than waiting for the Assembly elections to exploit it for political gain.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva criticized the AAP, asserting that the platform used to make grand claims about women's respect is marred by allegations against its attendees and their families, whether it be Kejriwal or Akhilesh Yadav.

The Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha office-bearers even organized a protest near Kejriwal's residence to voice their discontent regarding Akhilesh Yadav's presence at the Nirbhaya Memory Day event.

Sachdeva noted that Kejriwal, the mastermind behind the Mahila Adalat, could have showcased his commitment to justice by taking action against his associate Bibhav Kumar and ensuring justice for Swati Maliwal, who was assaulted by the former at the Chief Minister's residence.

However, Kejriwal remains silent on this matter, stated the Delhi BJP chief.

He further added that by inviting Akhilesh Yadav to the Nirbhaya Day program, Kejriwal disrespected Nirbhaya's memory.

Delhi BJP President raised questions on how Kejriwal could organize a Mahila Adalat alongside Akhilesh Yadav, given that his father, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, notoriously defended individuals accused of crimes against women, downplaying their actions by saying, “Boys make mistakes.”

“If Kejriwal possessed any moral integrity, he would have utilized the Mahila Adalat platform to demand an apology from Akhilesh Yadav for his father's comments,” remarked Sachdeva.

He condemned Kejriwal for diverting attention from the genuine concerns in Delhi, asserting that despite such attempts, the public, especially women, would not be swayed.

Sachdeva concluded, “Kejriwal should understand that this election in Delhi is pivotal, and this time, women have resolved to support the BJP.