Raghav Chadha doesn’t have to leave his official bungalow
New Delhi:
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha today thanked the Delhi High Court for passing an order in favor of “truth and justice” by setting aside a court order on eviction from his government bungalow.
Mr Chadha had appealed against the court’s order that lifted an interim injunction preventing the Rajya Sabha Secretariat from removing him from the government bungalow allotted to him.
In a video statement, Chadha said his “fight is not about a house or a shop, but about saving the constitution.”
“I would like to thank the Delhi High Court. It has ensured the victory of justice and the defeat of injustice,” the AAP MP said. “This must have been the first time in the country’s history that the leader of a small party has been targeted in such a brazen manner,” he said.
The court had held that Mr Chadha has no absolute right to continue occupying his government bungalow during his entire tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP even after cancellation of allotment.
“The cancellation of this allocation was a clear case of political vendetta aimed at silencing a young, vocal parliamentarian. The decision to withdraw my official accommodation was arbitrary, unreasonable and unjust and represented a new low in the political vendetta,” Chadha said. in the video statement, which he also posted on X, formerly Twitter.
You can make it so crazy, Samvidhan ko bachane ki ladhayi hai
In the end, truth and justice prevailedMy statement on the judgment of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court setting aside the unjust order to evict me from my official residence. pic.twitter.com/fA7BJ2zLYm
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) October 17, 2023
“…This cancellation was not only due to malicious intent but also contained inflammatory irregularities in clear violation of established rules and regulations,” he said. “Opposition voices, those who represent the concerns of millions of Indians, are being deliberately targeted.”
He said he made two speeches in Parliament criticizing the BJP-led Center and his official accommodation was canceled after his first speech. “After my second speech, my membership as a parliamentarian was suspended. No parliamentarian can function if he has to worry about what his frank and honest speech will cost him next,” Chadha said.
“All I want to say is that they can remove me from my official accommodation, they can remove me from Parliament, but they cannot remove me from the hearts of millions of Indians, where I hope I really live,” Chadha said . .
Yesterday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Mr Chadha’s case, challenging his suspension from the Rajya Sabha. Mr Chadha was suspended for allegedly forging signatures of other MPs and proposing their names before a committee without their consent.
The Supreme Court has directed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to deal with the allegations and has also sought the assistance of the Attorney General of India, R. Venkataramani. The case will resume on October 30.
