Political Turmoil: AAP Accuses BJP of Betrayal as Seven Rajya Sabha MPs Defect

AAP's Reaction to MP Resignations

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has labeled the resignation of seven of its Rajya Sabha members as a 'betrayal of Punjab', alleging that the BJP orchestrated this division by instilling fear through central agencies to lure away its leaders.

The party emphasized that the citizens of Punjab would not forgive those who have 'betrayed the state' after being elevated to the Parliament.

In a statement on X, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal remarked, 'The BJP has once again deceived the people of Punjab.'

Earlier, AAP Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak held a press conference announcing their departure from the party to join the BJP.

Chadha mentioned that nearly two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members had left the party and would now operate as a separate faction.

He also noted that several prominent figures, including Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh, had resigned from AAP.

Chadha confirmed that seven out of AAP's ten Rajya Sabha MPs had exited the party.

Manish Sisodia, another AAP leader, stated that the MPs who 'yielded to the BJP' and betrayed Punjab due to 'fear, greed, and personal interests' would not be forgiven.

'Punjab does not forgive traitors,' Sisodia asserted.

He highlighted that while party workers in Gujarat were risking their lives to promote AAP's ideology, some leaders opted to switch allegiances.

Sanjay Singh, an AAP Rajya Sabha MP, accused the BJP's top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, of attempting to undermine AAP by enticing its leaders.

'They have betrayed the people of Punjab. The citizens must remember these seven names. They will never forgive those who have betrayed the state,' Singh stated.

He added that AAP and the people of Punjab had supported these leaders in their rise from grassroots to Parliament, only for them to 'stab Punjab in the back.'

Singh pointed out that the very individual who was under investigation by the ED until recently is now part of the BJP, suggesting that this is part of an 'Operation Lotus.'

Anurag Dhanda, AAP's national media in-charge, claimed that central agencies were being weaponized to instill fear among party members.

He alleged that an Enforcement Directorate raid had recently taken place at one of the MPs' residences.

'The BJP has dismantled AAP through a conspiracy. These MPs had grievances with the party, but they forgot that they were sent to the Rajya Sabha by AAP,' Dhanda concluded.