President’s assurance on constitutional rights gives us strength: Raghav Chadha

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) Rajya Sabha MP, Raghav Chadha, on Tuesday met President Droupadi Murmu along with three fellow MPs and raised concerns over alleged misuse of state machinery by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government following their decision to merge with the BJP.

In a statement after the meeting, Chadha said the delegation conveyed to the President that two-thirds of their MPs had exercised their constitutional right to leave AAP and join the BJP but were now facing what he described as targeted harassment.

“We conveyed how the AAP’s Punjab government is misusing state machinery to target us for exercising our constitutional rights, after two-thirds of MPs chose to merge with the BJP. The party that once cried vendetta is now practising its most toxic form,” he said.

Chadha said the MPs drew reassurance from the President’s response. “We take strength from the President’s assurance that constitutional rights and democratic choices must be respected,” he added.

Launching a sharp attack on AAP, he remarked that the party’s conduct had turned vindictive after their exit. “AAP today behaves less like a political party and more like an obsessed, jilted ex — bitter, vindictive, and unable to move on,” he said.

The BJP leader then detailed a series of alleged incidents to support his claims of harassment. He said that since April 24, 2026, when they formally merged with the BJP, multiple MPs had faced intimidation and pressure.

Citing one such instance, Chadha alleged that former cricketer and MP Harbhajan Singh was targeted, with slogans raised outside his residence in Jalandhar and objectionable remarks made against his family members. He further alleged that stones were pelted at the house, and “anti-national” graffiti was written outside, with the help of Punjab Police.

He also accused the Punjab government of targeting industrialist and Padma Shri awardee Rajinder Gupta. According to Chadha, Gupta’s factory in Punjab’s Malwa region — which he said supports around 30,000 families — was subjected to administrative action. He alleged that the water connection to the factory was cut and that the state Pollution Control Board carried out inspections aimed at shutting it down, by the Punjab Government.

Chadha further said that AAP leaders had changed their stance towards them after their exit from the party. “As long as we were obedient, we were called cultured; the moment we left, we were branded corrupt. Those who call loot and plunder ‘extreme honesty’ — how can anyone maintain relations with them?” he said.

He also warned against what he termed a dangerous escalation of political retaliation. “AAP has a government in one state and control over the police there, while the BJP governs 21 states. The dirty game of revenge and retaliation that you have started — no one can even imagine where it will end. Please refrain from it,” he said.

—