Raghav Chadha's Z+ security by Punjab police withdrawn amid rift with AAP

Chandigarh,UPDATED: Apr 15, 2026 10:40 IST

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha’s Z+ category security cover provided by the Punjab Police has been withdrawn, sources said, in a move that comes against the backdrop of his widening rift with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Chadha, an AAP MP elected from Punjab, had been accorded Z+ security by the state government. Sources said this cover was withdrawn last week. However, he has now been provided central security cover.

The development is being viewed in political circles as significant, given the timing and the ongoing tensions between Chadha and the party leadership.

Sources indicated that the withdrawal comes amid growing distance between Chadha and the AAP.

The party had recently removed him as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. Responding to the move, Chadha said he had been “silenced, not defeated”.

AAP leaders have also accused him of avoiding raising Punjab’s issues in Parliament and engaging in “soft PR” instead of taking an aggressive stance against the Centre.

The political friction has been accompanied by a series of cryptic social media posts by Chadha.

Last week, he commented “interesting thought” on a video suggesting that he should float his own political party rather than join another, fuelling speculation about his future plans.

He also shared an image of a book chapter titled “Never Outshine the Master”, widely seen as a veiled dig at party chief Arvind Kejriwal.

Chadha has pushed back against the criticism, saying his role in Parliament is to raise public issues rather than create disruptions.

He has also rejected allegations that he avoided key opposition actions, including walkouts and signing notices against constitutional authorities.

In recent days, he has released multiple videos and posts, signalling that he is unlikely to remain silent over the party’s actions.

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