AAP's new Rajya Sabha deputy leader Ashok Mittal calls changes normal

Ashok Mittal has been appointed AAP's new deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha. Mittal termed it a normal process, while Chadha alleged that the AAP leadership is trying to silence him in Parliament and silence him.

After being appointed as the Aam Aadmi Party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, succeeding Raghav Chadha, party MP Ashok Mittal said on Friday that AAP is a party that functions democratically, emphasising that such changes are a normal process.

'Changes are a normal process'

Speaking to ANI, Mittal explained that the leadership consistently rotates responsibilities to foster growth and more effectively amplify the public's voice. "AAP is a party that functions democratically. Our party always tries to give different responsibilities to different people so that they can learn from it and also amplify the voice of the people. Before Raghav ji, ND Gupta ji served as the Deputy Leader. Now, I have been appointed to this post, and tomorrow someone else will come. Such changes are a normal process in our party," said Mittal.

Earlier 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 hits back

Following his removal from the position of the party's Deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Friday said his silence in Parliament should not be mistaken for defeat. In a post on X, Chadha questioned the reasons behind being prevented from speaking in Parliament.

He further alleged that the AAP leadership has formally instructed Parliament to deny him any opportunity to speak during proceedings. "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?" said Chadha.

Alleges party seeks to silence him

"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," he 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.

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.)