In a sign of growing internal tensions within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has openly questioned the party leadership for allegedly attempting to silence him in Parliament.
Chadha said he had been consistently raising public issues in Parliament, including food adulteration, lack of public facilities at airports, and the concerns of small workers employed in food chains. He stated that his efforts were aimed at highlighting issues affecting common people, but instead of support, his voice was being “choked”.
He alleged that the party leadership had even written to the Lok Sabha Speaker requesting that he not be given time to speak in Parliament. Chadha questioned the leadership over the decision and asked why he was being prevented from raising public issues.
Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, had remained in charge of Punjab affairs for over two years and was considered one of the prominent faces of the party from the state. However, he was recently removed from the post of party leader in the Rajya Sabha and replaced by Ashok Mittal, Chancellor and owner of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara.
Reacting to his removal, Chadha warned the party leadership that he had emerged from the public and would continue to raise public issues irrespective of his position in the party. He again questioned the leadership about the reasons behind denying him time to speak in Parliament.
The development has sparked speculation about internal differences within the party, especially regarding leadership and decision-making in parliamentary matters.