New Delhi: In a big relief for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha, his suspension from the Rajya Sabha over ‘breach of privilege’ was revoked today by House chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The revocation of AAP lawmaker’s suspension from the Upper House comes after the Standing Committee looking into charges against him agreed that the MP has undergone ‘sufficient punishment’ for the offence.
Chadha was suspended from Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session on August 11, over charges of ‘misleading the House as well as media over gaining ‘fake consent’ of fellow Parliamentarians for a proposal.
BJP MP JVL Narsimha Rao moved a motion in this regard in the Upper House today, stating that the committee was of the opinion that the MP has faced ‘sufficient penalty’ for the offence and it was of the view that the House should consider his discontinuation of his suspension from the House.
While announcing restoration of his services as Parliamentarian, the Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar said that the House expects Raghav Chadha to uphold expected standards of the house, befitting an MP.
A Privilege Committee meeting of the Rajya Sabha took place earlier in the day, to discuss & deliberate on the suspension matter of Raghav Chadha.
What was case against Raghav Chadha
Chadha was suspended from the Upper House for naming five fellow Rajya Sabha MPs in a Select Committee without taking their consent.
The AAP MP was accused of forging signatures of 5 MPs in a motion, related to Delhi Services Bill in the Rajya Sabha. He was suspended till the Privileges Committee submits its report over charges.
Raghav Chadha had challenged his indefinite dismissal from the House, following which the Supreme Court had asked Rajya Sabha chairman to seek an unconditional apology over latter’s suspension.
Chadha’s counsel told the top court that the AAP MP had no intention of harming the dignity of House and also to ‘mislead’ it over ‘forged’ consent from fellow MPs.
Raghav was suspended from the House after Leader of the House Piyush Goyal moved a motion in the House against AAP leader and accused him of including the names of some lawmakers in a proposed Select Committee for Government of NCT, without taking their consent.
What Raghav said after suspension revocation
My statement on the revocation of my suspension from Parliament today.
आपका बेटा आज से संसद में दोबारा आपकी सेवा में pic.twitter.com/869rRDBylj
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) December 4, 2023