The Punjab government has reportedly withdrawn the Z+ category security of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha, just days after the party removed him as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
According to an NDTV report, police officers and personnel assigned to Chadha’s security detail have been instructed to return to their headquarters immediately. Punjab is ruled by the AAP.
The move comes amid growing tensions between Chadha and the AAP, following accusations that he avoided criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government in Parliament, focusing instead on what party leaders have described as “soft PR”.
Chadha, however, dismissed these allegations as “lies”, asserting that he went to Parliament to raise people's issues and not create a ruckus.
The rift deepened further after Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that Chadha had deleted his earlier posts on X, which were critical of Modi and the BJP.
"Raghav Chadha, once a sharp critic of Modi and the BJP, has completely erased his former image and now presents a new, polished version of himself, as if he has been through a washing machine," Bharadwaj said, hinting that the MP may be leaning towards the BJP.
In response, Chadha released a video statement, labeling the allegations as “blatant lies”. He challenged his critics to provide evidence of any instance where he failed to participate, pointing out that parliamentary proceedings are recorded on CCTV.
Chadha has since shared several videos and posts on social media, making it clear that he would not accept his demotion quietly. His most recent post, on April 10, featured a video titled "Voice Raised, Price Paid," which included clips of him raising various issues in Parliament.
"With due respect to those questioning my parliamentary performance, I will let my work speak for itself," he stated in the post.
