"BJP Targeting Vocal MPs": AAP Leader Raghav Chadha Moves Supreme Court Against Suspension From Rajya Sabha

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha has moved to the Supreme Court today, contesting his suspension from the Rajya Sabha, NDTV reported. His suspension from the Upper House on 1 August, citing a "breach of privilege," followed allegations by four MPs that he had violated rules by naming them in a House panel without their consent.

Chadha clarified, "People from the BJP are saying I submitted some MPs' signatures. I want to tell you the truth. Any parliamentarian has the right to nominate names for a committee. This means that I can propose names for a select committee. I don't need an MP's written consent or signature to do so. You just have to give the names. If any MP has an objection, they can withdraw their name. We have not submitted any signatures," after his suspension.

A resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha, led by Piyush Goyal, suspended Chadha until the privileges committee completes its investigation. Goyal sought action against Chadha for including names in a proposed select committee for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, without their consent.

Raghav Chadha is the second AAP MP to be suspended from the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session. Sanjay Singh, a senior leader, was suspended on 24 July. Recently, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 4 October in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

Earlier in the day, Chadha challenged a local court's order at the Delhi High Court, which vacated an interim order that previously prevented the Rajya Sabha Secretariat from evicting him from the Type VII bungalow.

The bungalow, initially a Type VI allotted in July last year, was upgraded to a Type VII in September of the same year. However, in March, the secretariat canceled the allotment, contending that the first-time MP was not entitled to such a grade of bungalow.

Describing the cancellation as "arbitrary and unprecedented," Chadha emphasised that this, along with his suspension, suggests an orchestrated effort to target vocal Members of Parliament by the BJP, characterising it as unwarranted interference in their duties and a manifestation of vendetta politics.