Swati Maliwal, who took charge as the new chief of Delhi Commission for Women on Monday, talks to Maria Akram on her priorities

What are your top priorities?

ith increasing instances of crimes against women in the city, their safety would be my top priority. Moreover, this Commission has become a political battleground and my aim would be to stop the politicisation of women issues. There are no toilets in some places in Delhi. We will ensure that within a year, people don’t have to defecate out in the open.

Questions have been raised about your experience and whether you are too young for such a big responsibility.

In 2006, I quit my job as a computer engineer. I started working in Delhi slums and helped people in ration and RTIs. During the 2008 Bihar floods, I lived among victims and helped them in their rehabilitation. At the age of 25, I was chosen as the National RTI Awards head. I was also the youngest member in Anna Hazare’s core team and helped in drafting of the Jan Lokpal Bill. My experience varies from grassroots level to policy-making.

What do you have to say about the charges that the Opposition has levelled against your appointment?

It is really sad and it highlights the patriarchal society we live in. All my work has been ignored by the Opposition leaders and for them I am just someone’s wife, who happens to be an Aam Aadmi leader. My husband, Naveen Jaihind, is a member of the party but I am not. People went to the extent of relating me to Arvind Kejriwal, but I’m not related to him.

There are cases against AAP leaders like Somnath Bharti. Kumar Vishwas was also dragged into controversy. What about those cases?

I will go through each and every detail of these cases and whatever action is to be taken will be taken. Nobody will be spared, even if it is my husband. I haven’t seen the papers yet, but if AAP members have done something wrong, then I will be first person to take action against them.

How will you strengthen the Commission?

We already have a blueprint ready and there are plans to strengthen it. Safety of women is the priority of this government. We want to ensure that any woman can step out after midnight without any fear.

All my work has been ignored by the Opposition leaders and for them I am just someone’s wife, who happens to be an Aam Aadmi leader.