Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday termed Raghav Chadha’s removal from the post of AAP’s Rajya Sabha deputy leader as part of “regular party functioning,” while indicating that internal discipline remains non-negotiable.
Seeking to downplay the development, Mann said leadership roles in Parliament often change and should not be seen as extraordinary.
“In Parliament, the leader or deputy leader keeps changing. When I first won the election, there were four of us, and Dr Gandhi ji was made the leader in Parliament. Later, I also became the leader of the parliamentary party. So, these are party decisions—such small decisions keep happening,” Mann said.
“I am here because of the party. Such decisions are taken within the party. Even if someone like (Narendra) Modi ji says something, or the opposition says something, we make our own decisions. All parties and all opposition members come together and take decisions accordingly,” the AAP leader said, adding that “Those who break party lines and go against the party whip, should be subjected to action.”
During the press briefing, when a reporter asked, if he believed Raghav Chadha was “compromised,” Mann responded in the affirmative, simply saying, “yes.”
{{/usCountry}}During the press briefing, when a reporter asked, if he believed Raghav Chadha was “compromised,” Mann responded in the affirmative, simply saying, “yes.”
{{/usCountry}}He added that it was up to Chadha to respond publicly, noting, “What statement he wants to give or not give is up to him.” The Punjab CM said that the party acts collectively.
AAP hits back at Chadha
Earlier in the day, AAP leader Anurag Dhanda criticised Chadha following his remarks on the removal, accusing him of holding back in recent years.
In a post on X, Dhanda said Chadha appeared “scared” and had hesitated to speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He added that with limited speaking time in Parliament, members must prioritise key national issues rather than matters like "making samosas cheap at the airport."
Chadha questions curbs on his speech
Responding sharply, Chadha rejected the move and questioned why he was allegedly being prevented from speaking in Parliament.
“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?” he said.
He further claimed that the party had formally communicated to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to restrict his participation. “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,” Chadha added.
“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,” Raghav Chadha said.