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NEW DELHI: A day after the Aam Aadmi Party removed Raghav Chadha as its Rajya Sabha deputy leader, the MP launched a pointed attack on the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, asserting that his silence in Parliament should not be mistaken for defeat.Once seen as a Kejriwal loyalist, Chadha, without directly naming individuals, raised questions over the party’s high command, especially after AAP requested the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to not allot him speaking time in the House.Taking to social media, Chadha shared a video clip shot against the backdrop of the old Parliament building, titled “Silenced, not defeated,” which he described as his “message to aam aadmi.”He said in the video, “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 Chadda should not be given a chance to speak in the Parliament,” he added.In recent years, the Punjab-elected Rajya Sabha member had built a strong public profile by consistently raising “public issues” in Parliament, ranging from gig workers’ rights and rising mobile recharge costs to paternity leave and pricing of eatery menus at airports.Chadha entered politics with the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party, an unconventional political startup that quickly grew into a national force. Much of the momentum behind Arvind Kejriwal’s emergence was driven directly by the Jan Lokpal movement led by Anna Hazare.As AAP expanded and consolidated its position, forming three successive governments in Delhi, including two with sweeping majorities, Chadha’s stature within the party also rose. He became one of Kejriwal’s trusted lieutenants and a prominent public face of the party.When AAP pushed beyond Delhi and made a decisive breakthrough in Punjab, Chadha was entrusted with key organisational responsibilities. He played a significant role in the party’s expansion and in the formation of the government which is being led by chief minister Bhagwant Mann.Raghav Chadha, also a chartered accountant, has long identified himself as a product of the “Arvind Kejriwal school of politics”, aligning his rise with the leadership and ideology of AAP supremo Kejriwal.
‘Jo darr gaya, samjho marr gaya’: AAP top brass targets Raghav Chadha
As Chadha raised questions on party leadership, the AAP hit back swiftly, with senior leaders publicly countering their now, a distant colleague.AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj responded to Chadha’s video with one of his own on X, invoking a famous Sholay dialogue in a pointed swipe: “jo darr gaya, samjho marr gaya.”The party’s IT cell chief Anurag Dhanda also launched a sharp critique, accusing Chadha of failing to perform his duties in the party’s interest. Taking aim at the issues Chadha raised in Parliament, he remarked, “In Parliament, the party gets just a little time to speak—in that, we can either struggle to save the country or haggle to make the samosas cheaper in the airport canteen.”Dhanda went further, questioning Chadha’s political stance and resolve. “If someone fears Modi, will they fight for the country?” he said, alleging that Chadha had avoided taking strong positions on key national issues.He cited multiple instances to back his charge, alleging silence during the arrest of party workers in Gujarat, inaction over voting rights concerns in West Bengal, and refusal to support a motion against the Chief Election Commissioner. Dhanda also accused Chadha of staying back in the House during party walkouts.“For the past few years, you’ve grown afraid, Raghav. You hesitate to speak against Modi. You hesitate to speak on the country’s real issues,” he said, ending with a pointed remark: “He who is afraid…”
