New Delhi (India) April 3:The day after Raghav Chadha was removed from his position as Deputy Leader of the Rajya Sabha, he took to social media to express his frustration with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He emphasized that his silence in Parliament shouldn’t be viewed as a sign of defeat. Although he didn't specifically name anyone, Chadha raised concerns about the party's internal structure, especially after AAP officials instructed him not to speak in the House.

Chadha Hits Back at AAP After Demotion

In a video shared online, filmed behind the Parliament building, Chadha argued that the issues he wanted to address were crucial for the public and questioned how discussing them could possibly harm the party.
He said, "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? 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 Chadha should not be given a chance to speak in the Parliament."

Bharadwaj: Chadha Skipped Protests

His comments prompted a swift response from AAP leaders. Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj accused Chadha of failing to represent the party’s stance in Parliament and not participating in opposition protests.
“We all are soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal, the Centre doesn't care about soft PR or talking about samosas at airport canteens when bigger issues are at stake,” Bharadwaj said.
“Whenever the Opposition staged a walkout in Parliament, you (Chadha) did not participate. You did not raise issues concerning Punjab, from where you are elected, and you hid in a foreign country when former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested,” he added.

Mann Calls Raghav "Compromised"

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also weighed in, defending Chadha's removal by stating that it was a standard party procedure. He warned that anyone deviating from the party line risks facing consequences. 

He said, “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.”
“In Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, the opposition takes many decisions, any member who goes against the party line, it goes against the party whip. Hence, if you go against the whip, you are bound to face action,” he added.
Mann further criticized Chadha, labeling him as “compromised” for violating party directives and acknowledged that AAP would periodically replace its leaders in Parliament.