Raghav Chadha gives his first message after being ousted from AAP

He stated “Silenced, Not Defeated” after AAP dropped him as its Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha.

Member of the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, Raghav Chadha, who has been part of the AamAadmi Party (AAP) since the party’s inception in 2012, was recently dropped by the party as its Deputy Leader in the upper House of the Indian Parliament. On Friday, he took to social media to hit back after the party decided on his demotion.

What did Raghav Chadha say on his oust as the Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha?

Chadha asked in a video message posted on X, “Whenever I get a chance to speak in Parliament, I raise public issues. Maybe I raise topics not usually raised, but is raising public issues a crime? Have I committed a crime? Have I made a mistake? Have I done something wrong? I am asking this question because the AAP told the Secretariat to stop Raghav Chadha from speaking in Parliament,” he said in his ‘silenced, not defeated’ message to the ‘aamaadmi’.

AAP leader SaurabhBharadwaj replies to Raghav Chadha.

In a video message, AAP leader SaurabhBharadwaj criticised Chadha for focusing only on “soft issues” and not supporting the party on contentious political topics, including not questioning Prime Minister NarendraModi or the ruling BJP in Parliament or walking out of the House when other opposition parties did so as a form of protest. Taking to X, he said, “All our political leaders were in jail. ArvindKejriwal was arrested in a false case (but) you were not in the country. You went somewhere and hid. We have to raise real issues with courage and fearlessness… we have to raise real issues despite pressure from the BJP. Otherwise, your soft issues will not make a difference.” He added, “Think about it… see where you came from and where you are now. And what the country needs and how you can make it better. Thank you.”

AAP is yet to explain why Chadha was dropped. However, sources said his absence from key party activities and the clean chit to Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case sparked speculation in the corridors of power. Raghav Chadha has been active raising key issues in the Rajya Sabha, including high food prices at airports, gig workers’ rights, and traffic congestion in major cities.