‘Namaskar, Mai Suspended Sansad…’: Raghav Chadha After Being Expelled From Rajya Sabha

Raghav Chadha, an MP for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), described himself as a “suspended” Rajya Sabha member in a video message and asked several questions about the federal government’s decision to exclude him from the Upper House.

He inquired as to whether his suspension was a result of, among other pertinent things, “questioning the leaders of the biggest party in the world inside the Parliament.”

What did Raghav Chadha have to say?

He posed the question, “Am I guilty because I questioned the leaders of the largest party in the world inside the Parliament, or am I guilty because I made my case regarding the Delhi Services Bill and demanded justice from them?”

For allegedly adding members’ names to a select committee to review the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, without their knowledge, Raghav Chadha was expelled from the Upper House.

Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal, a union minister and leader of the House, moved the motion of suspension and cited a member who complained that his name was “fraudulently” placed on the list despite not having given his permission. The opinions voiced by the members on the floor of the House made it clear that the honorable Raghav Chadha had violated their rights to due process by adding their names to the resolution without first obtaining their consent. This is against Rule 72’s requirement, he declared.

Five Rajya Sabha members—MM Thambidurai of the AIADMK, Sasmit Patra of the BJD, S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin, and Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP—claimed that their names were put in a select committee proposed by Raghav Chadha in the House without their permission.

Earlier, the AAP MP denied the accusations

As a result of Chadha’s suspension by the Rajya Sabah, several opposition lawmakers responded. Sanjay Singh, an AAP member of parliament whose suspension was also extended today, claimed that the decision was based on “baseless allegations.”

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“They are focusing on me rather than acting in Manipur. They violated the regulations by extending my suspension. I won’t be scared by such actions and will continue to speak up for Manipur. He added that Raghav Chadha had also been suspended due to unfounded claims.