In a fresh escalation of tensions within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Punjab government has withdrawn the Z+ category security cover of Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, just days after he was removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Upper House.
According to sources, personnel from the Punjab Police who had been assigned to protect the 37-year-old leader have been instructed to report back to headquarters with immediate effect. The move signals a deepening rift between the party leadership and one of its prominent young faces.
The development comes on the heels of AAP’s decision earlier this month to strip Chadha of his role as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. The party had accused him of avoiding strong criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government during parliamentary proceedings. Instead, AAP leaders alleged, Chadha had been engaging in what they described as “soft PR” rather than aggressively advocating the party’s stance.
Chadha, however, has pushed back firmly against these claims. Rejecting the allegations as “lies,” he asserted that his approach in Parliament has always been focused on raising public issues constructively rather than creating disruptions. His remarks indicate a widening ideological and strategic divide within the party over how to engage with the ruling establishment.
The withdrawal of Z+ security—one of the highest levels of protection provided to public figures in India—adds a significant dimension to the ongoing dispute. While such decisions are typically based on threat perception assessments, the timing of this move has raised political eyebrows, with many viewing it as part of the broader fallout between Chadha and the party leadership.
This episode underscores growing internal strains within AAP, particularly in Punjab, where the party holds power. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the differences can be reconciled or if the rift will lead to further political consequences for both the party and Chadha.
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