Bittu Slams AAP Over Raghav Chadha's Ouster, Warns Bhagwant Mann

Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, has launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following the recent removal of Raghav Chadha as the party's Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. Bittu, dismissing speculation of Chadha joining the BJP, alleged that Chadha's 'role as an ATM' for the party was now over, claiming that AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has found a 'bank' instead to manage party funds. These remarks signify a deepening political rift within the AAP and highlight the ongoing power dynamics in Indian politics. The development stems from AAP's formal communication to the Rajya Sabha secretariat on April 2, 2026, requesting Chadha's removal from the deputy leader's post and limiting his speaking time from the party's quota in the Upper House. This action by AAP has fueled speculation about internal discord, with sources indicating growing differences and alleged indiscipline from Chadha's side. Chadha, a prominent and young MP, was once seen as a close confidant of Arvind Kejriwal and a key strategist, particularly during the AAP's victory in Punjab in 2022. However, reports suggest tensions had been brewing for months, with Chadha reportedly being sidelined from organizational roles and political campaigns. Key allegations against Chadha from within the AAP include his absence during critical junctures, such as Arvind Kejriwal's imprisonment in the excise policy case (Chadha was in London for eye surgery), and his perceived silence on sensitive issues. Party leaders like Saurabh Bharadwaj accused Chadha of engaging in 'soft PR' in Parliament, failing to raise his voice adequately against the Prime Minister and the Centre, and not participating in opposition walkouts. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also publicly defended Chadha's removal, calling it a routine internal functioning and alleging that Chadha had become 'compromised' and acted against the party whip. In response to these allegations, Raghav Chadha vehemently rejected the claims, labeling them 'false' and part of a 'coordinated attack' aimed at discrediting him. In a defiant video message, Chadha declared, 'Ghayal hoon isiliye ghatak hoon' (I am wounded, therefore I am dangerous), and added, 'picture abhi baaki hai' (the picture is not over yet), suggesting he would expose the truth. He challenged critics to provide proof regarding his alleged failure to join walkouts and refuted claims of not raising Punjab's issues, sharing videos of his parliamentary interventions on concerns like declining groundwater levels and farmer issues. Beyond the internal AAP conflict, Ravneet Bittu also utilized the occasion to launch a broader attack on the AAP government in Punjab. He sternly warned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that he could face a similar 'use and throw' fate if he stopped aligning with Kejriwal, likening AAP's functioning to a 'one-man show' where individuals are sidelined once their utility ends. Bittu further criticized Chadha's parliamentary record, accusing him of addressing 'trivial issues' like 'samosas and chutney' instead of focusing on Punjab's core problems, and alleging that the party prioritizes outsiders over state interests. In a separate but related development, Bittu also lambasted the AAP government for its alleged inaction in the suicide case of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a Punjab State Warehousing Corporation official. Randhawa died by suicide on March 21, 2026, after allegedly being harassed by former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. Bittu criticized the government for not arresting Bhullar's father and personal assistant, who were also implicated in the case, despite Bhullar himself being arrested. He demanded a CBI probe into the incident, alleging that the AAP government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann were shielding the culprits. Bittu claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured a CBI inquiry if all Punjab MPs jointly submitted a written request, and criticized Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring for not signing this request. This multi-faceted criticism from Ravneet Bittu underscores the heightened political tensions and ongoing controversies surrounding the Aam Aadmi Party in both Delhi and Punjab.

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