Raghav Chadha Responds to Allegations After AAP Leadership Change

Raghav Chadha, a Member of the Rajya Sabha representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), responded to allegations made against him after being removed from his position as deputy leader in the Upper House. This removal occurred on Friday, following criticisms regarding his perceived lack of support for party initiatives.

Chadha made his remarks in a video posted on X, wherein he addressed three significant claims made by the AAP, asserting he felt compelled to respond to prevent misinformation from taking root. The allegations suggested that Chadha was hesitant to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi, did not support a resolution aimed at impeaching Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and wasted parliamentary time on trivial matters, specifically discussing samosas. Anurag Dhanda, AAP's national media chief, was quoted saying, "For the past few years, you have become afraid, Raghav. You are afraid to speak against Modi. You are afraid to raise the real issues of the country."

In his video, Chadha countered these claims, alleging they were part of a "scripted campaign" against him. He stated, "The same questions and the same allegations against me. This is no coincidence, but a co-ordinated attack." He pushed back against accusations that he failed to support the opposition during parliamentary walkouts, challenging AAP to provide evidence of a time he did not back the opposition. "This is a white lie. There are CCTVs all around the Parliament. Anyone can check them to get their answer," he noted.

With regard to not signing the motion to impeach Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Chadha pointed out that several other AAP MPs also did not sign the motion. He argued, "There are ten Rajya Sabha MPs from the AAP. But why am I being blamed for not signing the petition?"

Chadha also denied the accusation that his parliamentary contributions were frivolous due to fear of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He asserted, "I am in Rajya Sabha to raise people's issues. I am not here to create ruckus. I am here to create an impact." He highlighted various interventions he had made regarding pressing issues, including rising pollution levels in Delhi, the dire conditions of government schools, and issues concerning railway passengers.

In concluding his address, Raghav Chadha quoted a line from the Bollywood film 'Dhurandhar', saying, "Ghayal hoon, isliye ghatak hoon," which translates to "I am hurt. That's why I am dangerous." This statement reflects his intention to convey determination despite the challenges he is currently facing.

The Aam Aadmi Party's decision to remove Chadha from his role as deputy leader was seen as part of a larger strategy, especially as it followed his silence on significant party matters, particularly after notable AAP figures, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, were released by a lower court concerning the excise policy CBI case.