A day after being removed as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s deputy leader in
the Rajya Sabha, Raghav Chadha on Friday said he had been “silenced, not defeated,”
triggering a sharp exchange within the party and political reactions across the spectrum.

In a post on X, Chadha said, “Whenever I get a chance to speak in Parliament, I raise
public issues… But is raising public issues a crime? Have I committed a crime?” he said,
adding that his silence in the House should not be misconstrued as defeat. He also
alleged that the party had written to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat seeking to prevent him
from speaking.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Atishi questioned Chadha’s silence on what she
described as “pressing national concerns.” In a video, she asked why he had not raised
issues such as the alleged misuse of institutions and the ongoing LPG shortage. “Today,
our nation is passing through an immense crisis… yet you are not raising any questions.
Why are you seemingly afraid to speak out against it?” she said.

She alleged that Chadha had declined to support an impeachment motion against the
Chief Election Commissioner. Atishi said Chadha had “stayed away” when the party itself
was going through a crisis.