- The Punjab government today withdrew the Z+ category security cover provided to AAP MP Raghav Chadha
- The move is the latest amid AAP's growing and bitter rift with its Punjab MP
- Shortly after AAP's move, the Ministry of Home Affairs stepped in, offering security cover to the AAP MP
Just days after the Aam Aadmi Party, or AAP, removed Raghav Chadha as the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, the Punjab government on Wednesday withdrew the Z+ category security cover provided to the MP, sources have told NDTV.
Punjab Police officers and personnel deployed for the 37-year-old Chadha's security have been asked to report to headquarters immediately, the sources added.
The move is the latest amid AAP's growing and bitter rift with its Punjab MP.
Shortly after AAP's move, the Ministry of Home Affairs stepped in, offering security cover to the AAP MP.
According to sources, the Home Ministry will provide 'Z' category security to the AAP MP in Delhi and Punjab, while he will have a 'Y' category security in the rest of the country.
Accusing Chadha of shying away from raising his voice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in "soft PR", the AAP removed him as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha on April 2.
A combative Chadha dismissed the party's allegations as "lies" and said that he went to Parliament to raise people's issues and not to create ruckus.
Raghav Chadha is the second Rajya Sabha MP of AAP, after Swati Maliwal, to have fallen out with the party leadership.
Once considered a close confidant of Arvind Kejriwal and among the youngest MPs in the country, Chadha played a key role in party affairs, particularly in Punjab and during the AAP's tenure in Delhi.
In the past few months, Raghav Chadha has been vociferous in raising issues of public interest and those pertaining to their sufferings.
Earlier, in a video message, Raghav Chadha said he has "been silenced, not defeated".
