“Silenced, Not Defeated: Chadha Hits Back at AAP Over Rajya Sabha Removal”
AAP leader alleges internal curbs on his parliamentary participation as party replaces him with Ashok Mittal
NEW DELHI, Apr 3: AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Friday asserted that he may have been silenced, but he remains far from defeated, a day after the party removed him from the post of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
In a strongly worded statement shared via a video on X, Chadha accused his own party of attempting to restrict his voice in Parliament. He questioned whether raising public concerns had become unacceptable within the party framework.
“Whenever I speak in Parliament, I highlight issues that matter to the people, including those often ignored. Is speaking for citizens now considered a wrongdoing?” he asked.
Chadha further claimed that the party had officially communicated to Parliament that he should not be given an opportunity to speak under its quota. Responding to this, he said, “Do not mistake my silence for weakness. I will continue to stand firm.”
Highlighting his contributions, the MP stated that he consistently raised matters benefiting the common citizen and questioned why such efforts were being discouraged.
The development follows AAP’s decision to formally request the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to remove Chadha from his leadership role. The party has nominated Punjab MP Ashok Mittal as his replacement.
Sources indicated that the communication also suggested that Chadha, who represents Punjab in the Upper House, should not be allocated speaking time from the party’s share.
Once regarded as a close aide of Arvind Kejriwal and among the youngest prominent parliamentarians, Chadha has played a significant role in the party’s political strategy, especially in Punjab and during its governance in Delhi.
