'Have I done something wrong': Raghav Chadha hits back after AAP strips him of Rajya Sabha post

In an accompanying video, Chadha went further, questioning why the party had moved to restrict his voice in Parliament. He alleged that AAP had written to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat specifically to prevent him from being allotted speaking time.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha broke his silence on Friday, delivering a pointed response after the party removed him as its Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha and replaced him with Punjab lawmaker Ashok Mittal.

In a message posted on X, Chadha declared, "Silenced, not defeated. My message to the 'aam aadmi': Khamosh Karwaya Gaya Hun, Hara Nahi Hun."

The statement was brief, but the intent was unmistakable. 

In an accompanying video, Chadha went further, questioning why the party had moved to restrict his voice in Parliament. "Whenever I get a chance to speak, I raise issues related to the people, topics that are generally not discussed. Is speaking on public issues a crime? Have I committed any mistake or done anything wrong?" he asked.

He alleged that AAP had written to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat specifically to prevent him from being allotted speaking time. "AAP has said that Raghav Chadha should not be given an opportunity to speak. Why should anyone stop me from speaking in Parliament?" he said.

Chadha listed the causes he has championed in the House, the hardships faced by delivery workers, inflated food prices at airports, food adulteration, toll charges, the tax burden on the middle class, and telecom recharge pricing. "I have raised these issues, and the common people have benefited from them. What loss does AAP suffer because of this?" he asked.

Closing on a defiant note, he said, "Do not mistake my silence for defeat. I am like a river that can turn into a flood when the time comes. Jai Hind."

AAP formally communicated the leadership change to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on Thursday, appointing Ashok Mittal, a party MP from Punjab, as the new Deputy Leader in the Upper House. Sanjay Singh continues to serve as both the party's Leader in the Rajya Sabha and chairperson of the AAP parliamentary party.

The party is also reported to have urged the Secretariat not to allot speaking time to Chadha in his capacity as the outgoing deputy leader. This unusual step adds a sharper edge to what might otherwise appear a routine reshuffle.

Relations between Chadha and the Arvind Kejriwal-led party have been strained for some months, though neither side has spoken openly about the rift. Both have maintained a studied silence on the matter until now.

Political circles in Delhi and Punjab are abuzz with speculation that Chadha may be weighing a change of political affiliation ahead of the next Punjab Assembly elections. AAP currently holds ten seats in the Rajya Sabha, with the bulk of its representation drawn from Punjab, the only state where the party remains in government.

Whether Chadha's public outburst marks the beginning of a formal break, or simply the latest chapter in a fractious internal relationship, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the river, as he put it, is beginning to stir.

(With IANS inputs)