• Source:JND
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Raghav Chadha, AAP Rajya Sabha MP, has stirred fresh controversy amid an internal power tussle within the Aam Aadmi Party. On Saturday, the Rajya Sabha MP hit out at the party after it removed him as its deputy leader in the Upper House of Parliament.

In a video statement, he said, "I didn’t want to speak up, but if I stayed silent, even the repeatedly repeated lie would start to seem like the truth."

In the video, he addresses internal party efforts to limit his parliamentary speeches, claiming he was barred from raising public issues such as high airport food prices, delivery rider problems, food adulteration, toll and bank charges, and telecom data policies.

Captioning the 3-minute-24-second-long video as Three Allegations. Zero Truth, he says. "From yesterday, there has been a scripted PR campaign organised against me; it's no coincidence, it is a coordinated attack. First I thought I shouldn't respond. Then I thought if the lie is said 100 times, people might believe it, so I thought of responding to them."

He claims AAP has listed three allegations against him for allegedly preventing him from speaking in Parliament.

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He addresses each allegation in the video.

First allegation: The party claimed he walked out of Parliament with the opposition. Chadha said, "It’s not true, This is a white lie. I challenge anyone to show me one instance where I did not join the Opposition. There are CCTV cameras all over Parliament, anyone can check the footage. The truth will be revealed.

Second allegation: The party said I (Raghav) refused to sign the Chief Election Commissioner’s impeachment motion. Chadha responded, "This is also a lie. No one from AAP asked me to sign the petition, either formally or informally. The party has 10 MPs in Rajya Sabha of whom 6-7 did not sign the motion. So how am I the only one at fault? Also, a total of just 50 signatures from the Opposition were needed to pass this. So why the brouhaha over my supposed absence?"

Third allegation: The party said he was scared, which is why he focused on minor issues in Parliament. 

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“Let me clarify that I am not in Parliament to create ruckus, shout, break mics or abuse. I am there to raise people’s issues. Which issue did I not raise? From GST to income tax, Punjab’s water to Delhi’s polluted air, education to healthcare, woes of railway passengers to menstrual health, I raised all significant issues. You can see my Parliament record for the last four years. I have gone to Parliament to create an impact, not create ruckus. I have come to raise the issues of taxpayers who fund our Parliament."

Chadha ended his reply with a blockbuster Dhurandhar film dialogue, referencing that all lies would be uncovered and all questions answered, “Kyonki main ghayal hoon, isiliye ghatak hoon” [I am wounded, that’s why I am dangerous].


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