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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party<\/a> following its decision to remove Raghav Chadha<\/a> as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, even as he dismissed speculation about Chadha joining the BJP.Calling the development a sign of internal discord, Bittu alleged that Chadha\u2019s \u201crole as an ATM\u201d for the party was now over. \u201cHe used to raise funds for Arvind Kejriwal<\/a>, but now he has found a \u2018bank\u2019 instead,\u201d Bittu said to media, adding that he had warned Chadha earlier.The remarks came amid an escalating public fallout between Chadha and the party leadership, days after AAP formally wrote to the Rajya Sabha secretariat seeking his removal from the deputy leader\u2019s post and limiting his speaking role in the House.Bittu also took aim at AAP\u2019s functioning, describing it as a \u201cuse and throw\u201d outfit. He warned Bhagwant Mann that he could face a similar fate if he stopped aligning with Kejriwal. \u201cIt is essentially a one-man show. Once a person\u2019s utility ends, they are sidelined,\u201d he said.The Union minister further criticised Chadha\u2019s parliamentary interventions, accusing him of raising trivial issues such as \u201csamosas and chutney\u201d instead of Punjab\u2019s core concerns, and alleged that the party prioritises outsiders over state interests.How the rift unfolded<\/span>The tensions between Chadha and the AAP leadership had been brewing for months, with the MP gradually being sidelined from organisational roles and political campaigns. The situation escalated on April 2, when the party formally wrote to the Rajya Sabha secretariat seeking his removal as deputy leader and asked that he not be allotted speaking time from the party\u2019s quota.A day later, on April 3, Chadha released a video defending his parliamentary record, prompting a sharp backlash from senior leaders. Bhagwant Mann, along with other party figures, accused him of not following the party line, skipping key positions such as a petition against the Chief Election Commissioner, and focusing on less critical issues in Parliament.Mann even indicated that Chadha could be \u201ccompromised\u201d when asked directly.The public sparring marked a rare and visible breakdown in ties between Chadha and the leadership, with accusations of \u201csoft PR\u201d and lack of aggression against the Centre.\u2018Punjab is my soul\u2019<\/span>Amid the intensifying row, Chadha on Sunday issued a fresh statement and video message, strongly countering the allegations. \u201cPunjab is not a talking point for me. It is my commitment. It is my soul,\u201d he said, asserting that he had consistently raised key state issues, including pending funds, farmers\u2019 concerns, groundwater depletion and border security, in Parliament.He maintained that he had followed party directions, participated in walkouts when required, and had not been instructed to sign certain petitions cited by critics. Calling the charges \u201cbaseless and maliciously motivated,\u201d Chadha said he chose to focus on meaningful interventions rather than disruption.The escalating war of words has now left Chadha\u2019s role within AAP uncertain, marking a dramatic turn for a leader once seen as among Arvind Kejriwal\u2019s closest aides and a key strategist in the party\u2019s rise beyond Delhi.<\/div>\n\n