![\"Soft](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-129996830,imgsize-1026454,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/-.jpg\" "\\"Raghav")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party\u2019s internal rift spilled into full public view on Friday after MP Raghav Chadha reacted to his removal as the party\u2019s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, drawing sharp counterattacks from senior colleagues.Leaders including Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and IT cell head Anurag Dhanda, calling themselves \u201cArvind Kejriwal ke sipaahi,\u201d defended the leadership\u2019s decision and justified Chadha’s ‘demotion’ in the Upper House.Also read – <\/span>AAP rift out in open: Raghav Chadha attacks leadership; party hits back<\/a>Bharadwaj launched a pointed attack, accusing Chadha of indulging in \u201csoft PR\u201d rather than taking on the PM Narendra Modi-led government. Taking a swipe at one of Chadha\u2019s parliamentary interventions, he said, \u201cA small party gets very limited time there, and instead of talking about samosas, it is more important to raise the country\u2019s real issues.\u201dHe added, \u201cWhenever there is an issue and the opposition walks out, you do not join the walkout. For the past several years, I have not seen you raise any issue in Parliament where you questioned the Prime Minister or the BJP government. How can politics of fear work like this?\u201dQuestioning Chadha\u2019s role as a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, Bharadwaj said, \u201cYou are elected from Punjab, and you hesitate to raise even Punjab\u2019s issues. Recently in Gujarat, around 160 party workers were booked in false cases and many were arrested, yet you remained silent on that as well.\u201dEscalating the criticism further, he invoked a past episode involving party leadership. \u201cWhen many of our leaders were in jail and Arvind Kejriwal ji, as chief minister, was arrested in a false case, you were not even in the country at that time, you had gone somewhere and stayed away.\u201dThe party\u2019s IT cell chief Anurag Dhanda also mounted a sharp attack, accusing Raghav Chadha of failing to discharge his responsibilities in the party\u2019s interest. Taking aim at the nature of issues raised by Chadha in Parliament, he said, \u201cIn Parliament, the party gets just a little time to speak\u2014in that, we can either struggle to save the country or haggle to make the samosas cheaper in the airport canteen.\u201dDhanda escalated his criticism by questioning Chadha\u2019s political stance and resolve. \u201cIf someone fears Modi, will they fight for the country?\u201d he said, alleging that Chadha had avoided taking strong positions on key national issues. He pointed to several instances to support his charge, including alleged silence over the arrest of party workers in Gujarat, inaction on voting rights concerns in West Bengal, and refusal to back a motion against the Chief Election Commissioner.He further accused Chadha of staying back in the House during party walkouts, adding, \u201cFor the past few years, you\u2019ve grown afraid, Raghav. You hesitate to speak against Modi. You hesitate to speak on the country\u2019s real issues,\u201d before ending with a pointed remark: \u201cHe who is afraid\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n