New Delhi, August 12, 2023: Raghav Chadha, a prominent leader from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has swiftly updated his X bio to “Suspended Member of Parliament” following his suspension from the Rajya Sabha.
The suspension was enacted due to what was deemed a “gross violation of rules, misconduct, defiant attitude, and contemptuous conduct.” Chadha’s suspension is pending further investigation by the privileges committee.
The suspension transpired after Piyush Goyal, Leader of the House, took action against Chadha for listing certain Rajya Sabha members’ names without their consent in a proposed select committee for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Chadha’s amendment suggested a 19-member committee, which included names like Narhari Amin, S Phangnon Konyak, Sasmit Patra, M Thambidurai, and Sudhanshu Trivedi. Some of these individuals raised objections, asserting their names were included without prior consent.
Chadha, known for his outspokenness, released a statement the night following his suspension. In his words, “My suspension serves as a stark message from the BJP to today’s youth: If you dare to ask questions, we will crush your voice.” He elaborated on the reasons behind his suspension, attributing it to his robust questioning during his Parliament speech on the Delhi Service Bill. He pointedly highlighted his intention to hold the BJP accountable and mirror their actions against their own standards.
Chadha highlighted, “The way in which the BJP orchestrated the suspension of Rahul Gandhi from Parliament indicates their willingness to employ similar tactics to suspend and subsequently expel any AAP MP without hesitation.” His suspension parallels that of fellow AAP member Sanjay Singh, who was suspended from the Rajya Sabha earlier in the Monsoon session.
