Raghav Chadha, as soon as seen as an in depth confidant of Aam Aadmi Social gathering chief Arvind Kejriwal and a key determine within the occasion’s Delhi and Punjab affairs, now finds himself within the midst of alleged inside tussle – questioning, “Did I commit any offence?”
Quickly after being eliminated because the Rajya Sabha deputy chief, Chadha stated he had been “silenced,” as he persistently raised points that immediately have an effect on individuals’s every day lives, even when they’re usually missed in political discourse.
The AAP management, nevertheless, has pushed again, accusing him of specializing in “mushy PR” as an alternative of elevating hard-hitting political points in Parliament out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “concern”. Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised Chadha for not taking up the BJP-led Centre strongly sufficient.
Right here’s a have a look at the so-called “mushy” points like “samosas” that Raghav Chadha has raised in Parliament not too long ago.
1. Paternity depart
One of many points Chadha flagged in Parliament not too long ago was the necessity for authorized recognition of paternity depart.
“I demanded in Parliament that paternity depart ought to be a authorized proper in India,” he stated, arguing that caregiving duties shouldn’t fall solely on ladies.
“A father shouldn’t have to decide on between caregiving for his new child and retaining his job… And a mom shouldn’t must undergo childbirth & restoration with out her husband’s assist.”
He careworn that “caregiving is a shared duty” and that legal guidelines should replicate this actuality.
2. Visitors disaster in metro cities
Chadha additionally raised considerations over worsening visitors congestion in main cities.
“Visitors has turned our metro cities into big parking tons with individuals trapped inside them,” he stated, pointing to cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. He stated the commuters in these elements of nation spend “100 to 168 hours a yr caught in visitors”.
“Each hour misplaced is an hour India can’t get again,” he added, calling for a “Nationwide City Decongestion Mission” with higher public transport, smarter visitors methods and a scientific parking coverage.
3. 28-day month-to-month recharge and ‘use it or lose it’ knowledge
A big chunk of Chadha’s interventions centered on telecom practices, notably pay as you go customers.
“Telecom corporations supply Recharge Plans with ‘Day by day Knowledge Limits’. Any Unused Knowledge expires at midnight, regardless of being absolutely paid for,” he stated.
“You’re billed for 2GB. The remaining 0.5GB disappears as day ends. No refund. No rollover. Simply gone. This isn’t an accident. That is coverage.” He questioned why paid knowledge ought to be forfeited and demanded that unused knowledge be carried ahead.
The AAP chief additionally flagged what he referred to as the “28-Day ‘Month-to-month’ Recharge rip-off”.
“Telecom corporations name their plans ‘month-to-month’, however they final solely 28 days,” he stated, noting that customers successfully pay for 13 recharges a yr. He urged the businesses to align plans with 30–31 day cycles.
4. Menstrual well being
On social points, Chadha highlighted gaps in menstrual well being infrastructure.
“When a woman misses faculty as a result of there isn’t a pad, no water, no bin and no privateness, that isn’t her private downside. That could be a failure of our system,” he stated.
“Menstrual well being will not be a favour… It’s a matter of well being, training, equality and dignity. Ladies don’t want sympathy. Ladies want rights.”
5. Airport meals
One time period that AAP leaders used to query Chadha on Friday over his silence in opposition to the central authorities was “samosa” — an Indian snack. The AAP leaders had been referencing to elevating considerations about costly meals at airports flagged by Raghav Chadha.
“Air travellers have lengthy complained concerning the excessive price of meals at airports,” he stated, whereas welcoming the federal government’s Udaan Yatri Cafes initiative within the ongoing Price range Session.
Nevertheless, he flagged two gaps: restricted presence throughout airports and their placement exterior safety areas.
“Reasonably priced meals at airports shouldn’t be a luxurious. It’s a primary comfort for travellers,” he stated.
Days later, the Ministry of Civil Aviation introduced the enlargement of Udaan Yatri cafes.
On March 30, Chadha shared a video of him visiting the Udaan Yatri café at Maharashtra’s Mumbai airport and had chai for simply ₹10.
“Was flying to Delhi and wished chai earlier than the flight. Spoke to a number of travellers whereas I used to be there. All of them joyful, all of them saying the identical factor: Straightforward on the pocket, good service, worth for cash. Reasonably priced airport meals is feasible. And that is proof,” he stated.
6. Proper to recall and political accountability
In a broader political reform pitch, Chadha advocated for a “proper to recall”. “If voters can rent a neta, they need to be capable to fireplace the neta too,” he stated.
Arguing that 5 years is just too lengthy to attend for accountability, he identified that a number of democracies have already got recall mechanisms, whereas including that safeguards could be needed to stop misuse.
7. Gig staff and floor actuality
Chadha additionally spoke about gig economic system staff on a number of events, stressing “truthful wages, humane hours and primary safeguards”.
He even spent a day with a supply employee to know their challenges, backing calls for for higher pay and advantages, and calling for the elimination of ultra-fast supply pressures like 10-minute providers.
