Aam Aadmi Party's removal of MP Raghav Chadha as the party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha has drawn strong reactions across the political spectrum.
The move drew criticism from AAP's political opponents, including the BJP and Congress, and is being termed as “highly objectionable”.
While some leaders maintained that this was AAP's internal matter, they also said that preventing Chadha from speaking in Parliament was “wrong” and claimed that the MP had been “sidelined”.
AAP leaders, however, have lashed out at Chadha, with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann saying he was “compromised”.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said this was an “internal matter” for AAP, but added, “The way it has been written to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat that Raghav Chadha should not be allowed to speak is highly objectionable.”
BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri also condemned AAP's move, while calling Chadha a “good speaker”.
Union minister of state Ravneet Singh Bittu said the party was a “one man show” and accused AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal of not being able to “tolerate opposition”.
The Congress highlighted that the development suggests that Chadha was now “separate” from AAP.
AAP MP Ashok Mittal, who replaces Chadha, has said that this is a “normal process” in the party.
