New Delhi: A day after AAP removed him as the party’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Raghav Chadha announced that he will not be intimidated by attempts to silence him, drawing sharp reaction from his colleagues.Senior AAP members accused Chadha of being afraid of PM Narendra Modi and not raising issues related to the party’s stand. He referred to his failure to sign the notice demanding removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and his disregard of the party line on walkouts over issues in the House. Chadha was accused by Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, party leader in Rajya Sabha Sanjay Singh and leader of opposition in Delhi and Atishi in Parliament of indulging in “soft PR”. Asked by a journalist whether he believed Chadha had been compromised, Mann replied, “Yes”.

Mann questions Raghav’s focus: ‘Samosa on serious issues?’

Mann criticized Raghav Chadha for raising issues like the price of samosas at airports while ignoring core issues prioritized by AAP and accused him of deviating from the party line.Mann said, “If the party gives a line to raise specific issues, like valid votes were deleted (in West Bengal), 160 AAP leaders and volunteers booked in Gujarat, or Punjab issues, like attempts to polarize communities, MSP, Center stopping GST fund or rural development fund, but someone raises the issue of samosa or pizza delivery time at airports, will it not raise suspicion that he is talking from a different station?” ‘Jo Darr Gaya Samjho Mar Gaya’ jibe (Those who live in fear are as if dead), the AAP leaders taunted their estranged colleague.The controversy started when Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab since 2022, posted a video message on Instagram. He warned, “To those who have taken away my right to speak in Parliament, I want to say that do not consider my silence as a defeat. I am a river which can turn into a devastating flood when the time comes.”The Rajya Sabha MP asked whether it is a crime to speak about the problems of the common man in Parliament. “Today, I am asking this because AAP has told the Rajya Sabha Secretariat that Raghav Chadha should not be given time to speak in Parliament. Now, why would anyone want to stop me from speaking?” He asked and listed the various issues he raised, including expensive food at airports, problems faced by food delivery riders, taxes on the middle class.Sanjay Singh questioned Chadha’s silence on several issues – from LPG cylinders to vote manipulation in West Bengal, attack on rights in Punjab and atrocities on AAP volunteers in Gujarat. “Raghav Chadha remains silent on all these issues. I would like to tell him that we are the foot soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal, who has taught us to fight against Modi fearlessly.”Referring to Kejriwal’s arrest in March 2024, former Delhi CM Atishi said questions were raised over Chadha’s absence when the party leader was protesting on the streets and facing detention. “We had defended you then…but today, I also want to ask that when Kejriwal was arrested, were you scared of the BJP and hence ran away to London out of fear?” She got furious.