Raghav Chadha on Friday broke his silence after being removed as the AAP’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, questioning the decision in a video message shared on X. He asked whether raising public issues in Parliament had become a “crime.”
“Whenever I get the opportunity to speak in Parliament, I highlight issues concerning the public. But is that a mistake? Have I done something wrong?” Chadha said, claiming that the party had asked the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to stop his participation in debates.
He expressed surprise over the move, saying he only spoke on matters affecting citizens, including high airport food prices, challenges faced by gig workers, rising costs of prepaid mobile plans, and the tax burden on the middle class. “Why would anyone want to silence me?” he asked, while also thanking supporters and asserting, “Don’t mistake my silence for my defeat.”
The development came a day after the Aam Aadmi Party replaced him with Ashok Mittal as Deputy Leader in the Upper House. Shortly after, Chadha posted a video compilation of his parliamentary speeches, without additional comments.
In recent weeks, Chadha had raised several issues in Parliament, including flight delays, alleged exam paper leaks, and the demand for legal paternity leave.
The move has sparked speculation about internal differences within AAP. Opposition leaders pointed to similarities with past tensions, including the fallout between Swati Maliwal and Arvind Kejriwal in 2024.
Critics have suggested that Chadha’s relative silence during key moments—such as Kejriwal’s arrest in the excise policy case—may have contributed to the decision. Chadha was abroad for eye surgery at the time and remained largely absent during that period.
However, AAP has dismissed claims of any rift, stating that the change was part of routine internal restructuring and denying that Chadha was being restricted from speaking in Parliament.
