‘His Silence Disappointing’: AAP Says Raghav Chadha ‘Failed’ To Raise Punjab Issues In Parliament

AAP Punjab leaders accuse MP Raghav Chadha of failing to raise key state issues in Parliament, after his removal as Rajya Sabha deputy leader.

Chadha has been associated with AAP since its formation in 2012. (File image)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday took aim at its Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, accusing him of not adequately voicing Punjab’s concerns in Parliament and calling his approach inconsistent with the party’s core values.

In a joint statement, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, state unit chief Aman Arora and leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as Chadha’s silence on pressing issues. Cheema said that despite being elected by Punjab MLAs, Chadha failed to raise critical matters affecting the state at the national level. The Minister added that the MP did not raise “even a single sensitive issue” related to the state, PTI reported.

Chadha’s ‘Inaction’ Contrary To Party Principles: AAP

Among the concerns cited were pending Rural Development Fund dues of about Rs 8,500 crore and GST-related losses nearing Rs 60,000 crore. The leaders also flagged reduced GST compensation, funding gaps under the National Health Mission, and the Centre’s delay in releasing Rs 1,600 crore in flood relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after last year’s flood in the state.

Terming Chadha’s silence “disappointing”, Minister Cheema said the AAP had expected the Rajya Sabha MP to take up these issues with the Centre and that his “inaction” was contrary to the party’s principles.

Arora said consistently raising public issues is central to the party’s ideology. Dhaliwal added that flood-hit residents feel ignored, as their demands for compensation and relief were not brought up in Parliament.

This comes after the AAP on Wednesday removed Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader in the Upper House, indicating signs of an internal rift within the party. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party submitted an official letter to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat informing about the decision to remove Chadha as the party’s deputy leader. The party has also requested that Raghav Chadha not be allocated time to speak in Parliament.

Raghav Chadha’s Response

Hours after the move, the Rajya Sabha MP issued a veiled response by sharing a compilation of his arguments and interventions in Rajya Sabha.

The three-minute video featured the 37-year-old leader raising concerns of wide range of issues, from air pollution and rising airfares to gig workers’ rights and the 28-day validity of mobile prepaid plans, among others.

Earlier on Saturday, the AAP MP hit back, issuing a sharp response to what he described as three key accusations levelled against him by the AAP leadership.

He becomes the second Rajya Sabha MP of AAP, after Swati Maliwal, to have fallen out with the party leadership.

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