AAP vs Raghav Chadha: Mann says 'action for breaking party lines'

After Raghav Chadha's removal as AAP's Rajya Sabha deputy leader, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann warned against breaking party lines. Another leader called Chadha 'scared,' while Chadha himself vowed his silence should not be mistaken for defeat.

Mann calls for action against those who 'break party lines'

After AAP MP Raghav Chadha was removed as the party's deputy speaker in Rajya Sabha, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that those who "break party lines" should be subjected to action. However, CM Mann clarified that the removal of Chadha from the post in Parliament's Upper House is a regular part of the party's functioning. "This is regular party functioning... It is his call on what statement he wants to make. Those who break party lines should be subjected to action," said Bhagwant Mann.

AAP leader hits back, calls Chadha 'scared'

Earlier in the day, Aam Aadmi Party leader Anurag Dhanda hit back at AAP MP Raghav Chadha, following his remarks on removal as the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha. In an 'X' post, Dhanda stressed that Chadha has been "scared" from past few years and has hesitated to speak against PM Narendra Modi. The AAP leader stated that the party get little time to speak in Parliament, under which it can either save the nation or call out for "making samosas cheap at the airport." Dhanda further alleged that Raghav Chadha refused to sign AAP's proposal against the Chief Election Commissioner in the parliament, whereas he didn't say anything when AAP workers were being arrested by Gujarat police.

'Do not consider my silence as my defeat': Raghav Chadha

Earlier today, in a direct attack on the Aam Aadmi Party following his removal as the party's Deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said his silence in Parliament should not be mistaken for defeat.

'Is raising public issues a crime?'

In a post on X, Chadha questioned the reasons behind being prevented from speaking in Parliament. He said he consistently raises issues affecting the common people and asked whether doing so amounts to any wrongdoing. "Whenever I get a chance to speak in the Parliament, I raise public issues. And perhaps I raise topics that are not usually raised in the Parliament. But is raising public issues a crime? Have I committed a crime? Have I made a mistake? Have I done something wrong?" he said. "AAP has told the Rajya Sabha Secretariat that Raghav Chadha should be stopped from speaking in the Parliament. Yes, the AAP has informed the Parliament that Raghav Chadda should not be given a chance to speak in the Parliament," Chadha added.

Highlighting that he always raised issues of the public in Parliament, AAP MP said that his rights are being taken away, but they should not consider his silence as a defeat. "And the people who took away my right to speak in the Parliament today, silenced me. I want to say something to them, too. Do not consider my silence as my defeat. Do not consider my silence as my defeat. I am that river which becomes a flood when the time comes," Chadha said.

Public issues raised in Parliament

AAP MP emphasised that his interventions in Parliament focus on everyday concerns such as high airport food prices, challenges faced by delivery workers, food adulteration, toll and banking charges, taxation issues impacting content creators, and telecom practices like frequent recharges and lack of data rollover. "I talk about the problem of Zomato Blinkit delivery riders. I raise the issue of adulteration in food. I talk about the loot of toll plazas and bank charges. I even talk about the strike on content creators due to the burden of taxes on the middle class. I talk about how telecom companies make us recharge 13 times in 12 months. They do not give data rollover. They stop the incoming after the recharge is over," he said. He argued that these issues benefit the public and questioned how raising them could harm the party.

Ashok Kumar Mittal replaces Chadha

On Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party sent an official letter to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat informing that Ashok Kumar Mittal will be the new Deputy Leader of AAP in the Upper House, the party stated. Mittal has replaced Raghav Chadha as the Deputy Leader of AAP in the House.

Raghav Chadha has also been an MP since April 2022. He has made headlines on several occasions for raising public issues in Parliament. Last month, Raghav Chadha raised concerns over the practice of "sarpanch pati" or "panchayat pati," where women elected to reserved Panchayat seats often serve as figureheads while real power is exercised by their male relatives. He urged the government to ensure that women representatives in local bodies can exercise genuine authority as intended under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)