A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) removed Raghav Chadha from the post of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, the MP launched a sharp attack on the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, asserting that his silence in Parliament should not be seen as a sign of defeat.
Regarded once as a close aide of Kejriwal, Chadha, without naming anyone directly, raised concerns over the party’s leadership, particularly after AAP reportedly wrote to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat requesting that he not be allotted 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.
Emphasising that his interventions in Parliament have consistently centred on issues concerning ordinary citizens, Chadha said that although his opportunity to speak may have been restricted, his silence should not be interpreted as defeat.
“And the people who took away my right to speak in the Parliament today, silenced me. I want to say something to them, too. Do not consider my silence as my defeat. Do not consider my silence as my defeat. I am that river which becomes a flood when the time comes,” Chadha said.
The Aam Aadmi Party MP highlighted that his interventions in Parliament have focused on everyday concerns, ranging from high food prices at airports and the challenges faced by delivery workers to issues such as food adulteration, toll and banking charges, and taxation affecting content creators. He also raised concerns over telecom practices, including frequent recharge cycles and the lack of data rollover benefits.
“I talk about the problem of Zomato Blinkit delivery riders. I raise the issue of adulteration in food. I talk about the loot of toll plazas and bank charges. I even talk about the strike on content creators due to the burden of taxes on the middle class. I talk about how telecom companies make us recharge 13 times in 12 months. They do not give data rollover. They stop the incoming after the recharge is over,” he said.
Chadha argued that these issues directly benefit the public and questioned how raising them could harm the party.
“I raised all these issues in the Parliament. And after raising these issues, the common man of the country benefited. But how did that harm the Aam Aadmi Party? Why would anyone want to stop me from speaking? Why would anyone want to silence my voice? Anyway, you people give me unlimited love. Whenever I raise your issues, you support me, praise me, and encourage me. I want to say thank you to you. In the same way, hold my hand and support me. Do not leave me. I am with you. And I am for you,” he said.
A day earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party had formally informed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat that Ashok Kumar Mittal would replace Raghav Chadha as its deputy leader in the Upper House, signaling a notable shift within the party’s ranks. In recent years, the Punjab-elected MP had built a strong public profile by consistently raising “public issues” in Parliament, covering topics such as gig workers’ rights, rising mobile recharge costs, paternity leave, and the pricing of eatery menus at airports.
Chadha entered politics alongside 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 stemmed from 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 standing within the party also grew. He emerged as 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.
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.”
https://x.com/Saurabh_MLAgk/status/2039947456604160083?s=20
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.
https://x.com/anuragdhanda/status/2039942018303156651?s=20
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…”
