Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has expressed his strong disagreement with the cancellation of his allotted government bungalow in New Delhi, describing it as "arbitrary and unprecedented." A Delhi court recently ruled against Chadha, lifting the interim stay that had allowed him to continue occupying the bungalow after its allotment was canceled.
Chadha issued a statement alleging that the cancellation was influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to serve their political interests. He emphasized the unusual nature of the situation, highlighting that it is unprecedented for a sitting Rajya Sabha member to face eviction from their allotted accommodation.
Chadha raised concerns about irregularities in the order and subsequent actions taken by the Rajya Sabha secretariat, which he believed contravened rules and regulations. He suggested that these actions may have been carried out at the behest of the BJP to silence vocal parliamentarians like himself who have been critical of the government.
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Chadha contended that the allotment of the accommodation had been made by the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, taking into consideration various factors specific to him. The subsequent cancellation without apparent cause or reason led Chadha to believe that this was an attempt to unjustly target and victimize him.
He further claimed that the BJP was leaving no stone unturned to target vocal Members of Parliament, citing his suspension as an example of such actions amounting to unwarranted interference in the discharge of their parliamentary duties.
Chadha pointed out that many of his neighbors in similar accommodations were first-time MPs who had been allotted larger accommodations beyond their entitlement. He named specific MPs from various parties who had received similar treatment.
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In conclusion, Chadha vowed to continue representing the people of Punjab and India fearlessly, irrespective of the challenges he faces. The court's decision to lift the stay on the bungalow's cancellation has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the matter.