AAP MP Raghav Chadha Challenges His Indefinite Rajya Sabha Suspension In Supreme Court

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has taken legal action by approaching the Supreme Court to challenge his "indefinite" suspension from Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, 10th October.

In his petition submitted to the highest court, Chadha raised concerns about the extension of his suspension beyond a single session of the House. He denounced the suspension as "arbitrary and illegal." Additionally, he pointed out that the Privileges Committee of the Rajya Sabha had failed to initiate any action on the matter, leading to an unacceptable "indefinite delay."

Raghav Chadha found himself suspended from the Rajya Sabha in August due to allegations of forging the signatures of five MPs-namely, BJP's S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin, and Sudhanshu Trivedi, AIADMK's M Thambidurai, and BJD's Sasmit Patra-on a motion related to the Delhi Services Bill.

Raghav Chadha had initially put forward the proposal for the formation of a select committee to review the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023. In doing so, he had specifically listed the names of the four MPs as part of his proposal.

The motion for his suspension was set in motion by BJP's Piyush Goyal, who condemned Chadha's actions as unethical.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal had asserted that Chadha had consistently engaged in "gross impropriety and misconduct." Goyal further emphasized, "His conduct falls considerably short of the ethical standards that are anticipated from a member of this esteemed house."

Chadha, in response to his suspension, argued that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was employing this measure to stifle anyone who dared to question them.

Responding to his suspension, Chadha had said, "My suspension serves as a stark message from the BJP to today's youth: If you dare to ask questions, we will crush your voice. I was suspended for asking tough questions that left the BJP, the world's largest party, without answers through my speech in Parliament on Delhi Services Bill".

"My crime was exposing BJP's double standards on Delhi's statehood and asking them to follow 'Advani-vaad' and 'Vajpayee-vad'. The fact that a 34-year-old MP showed them a mirror and held them accountable, left them scarred", he added.

Simultaneously, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the BJP of deliberately attempting to implicate Chadha and asserted that the allegations of 'forged signatures' against him were baseless and driven by political motives.