New Delhi: Three weeks after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) removed him as its deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Raghav Chadha announced that he will quit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Not just him, the 37-year-old Chadha triggered a political earthquake on Friday as he said that two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to invoke constitutional provisions to merge with the BJP.
“We have decided that we, the two-thirds members belonging to the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP,” Chadha said.
Chadha addressed a press conference with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, who also announced their exit from AAP and set for the saffron party.
Other AAP MPs who will follow suit are disgruntled party leader Swati Maliwal, former Team India cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta and Vikram Sahney, revealed Chadha.
AAP will be left with three representatives in the Upper House — Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta and Balbir Singh Sicchewal.
Asked about the reason for his decision, Chadha said he didn’t want to be ‘part of their crimes’.
“You have been asking me for years why I was not participating in AAP’s activities and seemed distant from the party. I wouldn’t say anything at the time and kept working for things to get better. But I will tell you the real reason today: I didn’t want to be a part of their crimes (main unke gunaah mein shaamil nahin hona chahta tha). I was not worthy of their friendship because I
did not participate in their crimes,” Chadha claimed.
Chadha said that he and the other MPs had two options — either quit politics and give up the work they have done in the past “15-16 years” or use their experience and skills and do “positive politics”.
“The AAP, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, and gave 15 years of my youth to, has deviated from its principles, values and core morals. Now this party does not work in the interest of the nation but for its personal benefits… For the past few years, I could feel that I am the right man in the wrong party. So, today, we announce that I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting close to public,” Chadha said.
He praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the Central government had taken “strong decisions” that earlier regimes hesitated to take, including tackling terrorism and strengthening India’s global economic standing.
Chadha added that he looked forward to working under the Prime Minister and with Amit Shah, the Home Minister.
AAP accuses BJP of Operation Lotus
Soon after Chadha’s press conference, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of once again launching “Operation Lotus” and poaching leaders from rival parties.
Slamming Chadha and the other MPs who quit the party, Singh said they will never be forgiven by people of Punjab.
“The people of Punjab should remember these seven names. They will never forgive those who have betrayed them. The party made Raghav Chadha an MLA and an MP, what did the people of Punjab not give him? How much love did they show by sending him to the Rajya Sabha? And now, he has gone into the lap of the BJP,” Singh said.
“Bhagwant Mann is doing good work for the people there in areas like education, health, electricity, water, and providing government jobs, and yet this ‘Operation Lotus’ is being played against that government,” Singh said.