BJP's Raghav Chadha meets President, alleges vendetta by Punjab's AAP

BJP MP Raghav Chadha met President Murmu, accusing Punjab's AAP government of 'vendetta politics'. He alleged misuse of state machinery to target former AAP MPs who joined the BJP and claimed he is the next target of their 'toxic' revenge.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Raghav Chadha called on President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, apprising her about the alleged targeting of former AAP MPs by the Punjab government, who switched sides to the BJP in Rajya Sabha last month.

Chadha Accuses AAP of 'Toxic Vendetta'

Chadha, in an 'X' post, accused the Punjab government of misusing state machinery to target the former AAP MPs, adding that the party, which "once cried vendetta is now practising its most toxic form." "I want to tell AAP that they have started a dangerous game of revenge with the help of the Vigilance Board and Pollution Board, but the end will be really bad. According to sources, I will be their next target. The Punjab govt hired agencies to threaten us on social media. AAP is doing this using Punjab govt funds. This is the reason I said AAP is stuck in the hands of corrupt and compromised people," the 'X' post from Raghav Chadha said.

Addressing a press conference shortly after calling on President Murmu, he accused the Punjab government of hiring agencies and threatening all seven former AAP MPs by using state funds. "Honoured to meet the Hon'ble President of India this morning, along with three fellow MPs. We conveyed how the AAP's Punjab government is misusing State machinery to target us for exercising our constitutional rights, after two-thirds of MPs chose to merge with the BJP. The party that once cried vendetta is now practising its most toxic form. We take strength from the President's assurance that constitutional rights and democratic choices must be respected. AAP today behaves less like a political party and more like an obsessed, jilted ex -- bitter, vindictive, and unable to move on," his post added.

Chadda's claims a few days after the Punjab government registered two FIRs against Sandeep Pathak, another Rajya Sabha MP who left the Aam Aadmi Party to join the BJP.

President's Assurance and Warning to Officials

Chadha also stated that the President has assured security to all seven former AAP MPs and cautioned the Punjab government officers, as the current state government has only a few years left in power. "We made the President aware of the misuse and abuse of the Punjab state machinery by Aam Aadmi Party. The President has assured us of our protection and of protecting the Constitution. I want to tell the Punjab govt officers to beware, as the AAP govt has only a few months remaining now. Today, we told the President about the way the Punjab government has been using state machinery for dangerous vendetta politics against the MPs who left AAP to join the BJP," he said.

Details of Alleged Harassment

Chadha alleged "malicious" and "fabricated" cases being registered against BJP MP Sandeep Pathak, and shutting down of Rajinder Gupta's factory in Punjab. "'Deshdrohi' was written outside the residence of World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh by AAP workers with the help of the Punjab Police. After this, the water connection to Padma Shree Rajendra Gupta's factory was cut in Punjab. AAP also registered malicious and fabricated FIRs against Sandeep Pathak, and it was spread through the media that he would be arrested," said Chadha.

Sandeep Pathak Vows to Fight Legally

Sandeep Pathak, who accompanied Raghav Chadha while meeting with President Murmu, accused the AAP of intimidating former party MPs by filing fake FIRs. "We had decided to leave AAP based on our rights given by the Constitution. AAP is trying to intimidate us by filing fake FIRs. We will fight a legal battle... We are working for the interest of the country," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who rebelled against the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, said earlier today that he is "not scared of fake FIRs," referring to the two FIRs reportedly filed against him by the Punjab Police. (ANI)

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