AAP's Raghav Chadha Defies Party After Removal, Accused of Fear and PR Stunts
In a dramatic escalation of internal strife within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Raghav Chadha has defiantly declared that he will not be silenced, just one day after being removed as the deputy leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha. This bold statement has triggered a fierce and public backlash from senior AAP colleagues, who have accused him of being compromised and deviating from the party's core agenda.
Senior Leaders Launch Scathing Attack
Senior AAP members, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Rajya Sabha leader Sanjay Singh, and Delhi leader Atishi, have launched a coordinated assault on Chadha. They allege that he is "scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi" and has consistently failed to raise critical issues aligned with the party's official stand.
Specific accusations include:
- His failure to sign a notice seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Defying the party line on parliamentary walkouts concerning House issues.
- Engaging in what they term as "soft PR" within Parliament instead of substantive political battles.
When questioned by a journalist if he believed Chadha was compromised, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann responded with a blunt, "Yes."
"Samosas Over Serious Issues?" Mann Questions Chadha's Focus
Bhagwant Mann delivered a particularly pointed critique, questioning Chadha's parliamentary priorities. He criticized the MP for raising seemingly trivial matters like the high price of samosas at airports while allegedly ignoring core AAP issues.
Mann elaborated, stating: "If the party gives a line to raise specific issues—such as valid votes being deleted in West Bengal, 160 AAP leaders and volunteers being booked in Gujarat, or Punjab's issues like attempts to polarize communities, MSP, the Centre holding back GST funds, or the rural development fund—but someone raises issues of samosas at airports or pizza delivery times, won't it raise doubts that he is talking from a different station?"
Other AAP leaders joined the fray, taunting their estranged colleague with the Hindi phrase 'Jo Dar Gaya Samjho Mar Gaya' (those who live in fear are as good as dead).
Chadha's Defiant Response: "Don't Take My Silence for Defeat"
The public slugfest erupted after Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab since 2022, posted a video message on social media platform X. In a defiant tone, he issued a warning to his detractors.
"To those who have snatched my right to speak in Parliament, I would like to say don't take my silence for defeat. I am that river which can turn into a devastating deluge when the time comes," Chadha declared.
He questioned whether speaking about the common man's problems in Parliament was a crime, revealing that AAP had instructed the Rajya Sabha secretariat not to grant him speaking time. "Now, why would anyone want to stop me from speaking?" he asked, listing the diverse issues he has championed, from expensive airport food and problems faced by food delivery riders to taxes burdening the middle class.
Colleagues Highlight Chadha's Alleged Silence on Key Battles
Sanjay Singh countered by questioning Chadha's silence on what the party considers vital issues. "On all these issues—from LPG cylinders, to manipulation of votes in West Bengal, rights of Punjab under attack, and the atrocities being faced by AAP volunteers in Gujarat—Raghav Chadha keeps silent," Singh stated. He emphasized that AAP members are "foot soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal, who has taught us to fearlessly fight against Modi."
Atishi, referencing the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in March 2024, launched a personal attack. She noted that while party leaders were protesting on the streets and facing detention, questions were raised about Chadha's absence.
"We defended you then...But today, even I want to ask that when Kejriwal was arrested, were you scared of the BJP and therefore ran away to London out of fear?" she lashed out, adding another layer to the accusations of cowardice and disloyalty now engulfing the party's internal dynamics.
