Bhagwant Mann described the removal of Raghav Chadha as deputy leader of the Rajya Sabha of AAP as part of the “regular functioning of the party”.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday described the removal of Raghav Chadha as deputy leader of the Rajya Sabha of AAP as part of the party’s “regular functioning”, while noting that internal discipline remains non-negotiable.
In an attempt to downplay the significance of this development, Mann said leadership roles in Parliament change often and should not be seen as unusual.
“In Parliament, the leader or deputy leader is constantly changing. When I first won the election, there were four of us, and Dr Gandhi ji became 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 take our own decisions. All parties and all opposition members come together and take decisions accordingly,” the RJD leader said, adding, “Those who break party lines and go against the party whip, should be brought to book.”
During the press conference, when a reporter asked if he thought Raghav Chaddha had been “hacked,” Mann responded in the affirmative, saying simply: “Yes.”
He added that it is up to Chadha to respond publicly, noting that “the statement he wants to make or not is up to him.” The Punjab Minister said that the party is working collectively.
AAP responds to Chadha
Earlier in the day, AAP leader Anurag Dhanda criticized Chadha after his remarks on the removal, accusing him of declining in recent years.
In a post on X, Dhanda said Chadha appeared “scared” and hesitated to speak out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He added that with limited speaking time in Parliament, members should prioritize key national issues rather than matters such as “making samosas cheap at the airport”.
Chadha wonders about the restrictions on his speech
In a sharp response, Chadha rejected the move and questioned why he was prevented from speaking in Parliament.
“Whenever I have the opportunity to speak in Parliament, I raise public issues. I may raise topics that are not usually raised in 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 has officially informed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to restrict its participation. “AAP has informed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat that Raghav Chadha should be prevented from speaking in Parliament. Yes, AAP has informed Parliament that Raghav Chadha should not be given an opportunity to speak in Parliament,” Chadha added.
“And the people who took away my right to speak in Parliament today, silence me. I want to say something to them too. Don’t consider my silence as my defeat. Don’t consider my silence as my defeat. I am that river that becomes a flood when the time comes,” Raghav Chadha said.
Priyanshu Priya is a journalist with nearly three years of newsroom experience, driven by a deep belief that stories, when told right, can shape conversations and hold power to account. Currently working as a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, she writes on a wide range of issues, from Indian politics and public concerns in Delhi to global trade tensions and high-stakes crime stories. Priya joined HT at a pivotal moment, as Operation Sindoor was unfolding, and has since covered some of the most defining developments of recent times. Her reporting covers the Indian Airlines plane crash and the Pahalgam terror attack to India-US trade tensions, unrest in the Middle East, and key Assembly elections across the states. She thrives in the fast-paced world of breaking news. In 2025-26, it received the Q3 Award from Hindustan Times Digi Giorno for attracting more than 4 million page views in a single month. A graduate in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and a Mass Media graduate from Patna Women’s College, Priya began her news career with the Zee News English team, where she extensively covered the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, along with the Delhi and Maharashtra Assembly elections. When she’s not tracking or writing the next big development, she relaxes by watching TV series and movies, reading books with strong heroines, and revisiting comforting offerings of the familiar ease they bring when life feels too stressful.Read more
