Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha has reportedly been granted central security cover, according to sources, following the Punjab government's decision to withdraw his Z+ category protection. This move has attracted much attention, especially considering that this development comes at a time when there are increasing signs of discord within the AAP concerning the role of Chadha as the party's representative in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.
His security arrangements have been changed amid a torrent of criticism from high-ranking officials from his own party. In a notable joint statement, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, said party president Aman Arora, and leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed their "disappointment" over what they described as Chadha's failure to champion the state's interests in the Parliament. The leadership suggested that his perceived silence on pressing regional matters was fundamentally at odds with the party's core principles.
Cheema was particularly vocal, pointing out that despite being sent to the Upper House by Punjab’s MLAs, Chadha had neglected to raise "even a single sensitive issue" vital to the state’s welfare. The Finance Minister highlighted a string of unresolved financial grievances, including nearly ₹8,500 crore in unpaid Rural Development Fund dues and GST-related losses estimated to be in the region of ₹60,000 crore.
Further compounding these complaints is the allegation that the MP remained quiet when the central government failed to provide the full ₹1,600 crore flood relief package previously announced by the Prime Minister. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal noted that there is growing resentment among residents in flood-hit areas, who feel their pleas for compensation have been ignored on the national stage.
While the exact level of the new central security has not been formally confirmed, the timing of the intervention — paired with the stinging public rebuke from his party colleagues — has highlighted a growing distance between the high-profile MP and the Punjab AAP unit. Party leaders maintained that the mandate given by the people of Punjab requires a consistent and fearless voice in Parliament, an expectation they feel has not been met in this instance.
Also read: Raghav Chadha fuels buzz on ‘Gen-Z party’ amid AAP rift
Follow us
