Raghav Chadha: The MP Who Turned Parliament Into the Common Man's Megaphone
TL;DR
Raghav Chadha, AAP's 37-year-old Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, has emerged as arguably India's most viral parliamentarian — not through theatrics, but by raising issues every Indian deals with daily. From overpriced airport water to poisoned milk, from exploited gig workers to crushed middle-class taxpayers, Chadha has built a track record of 317 parliamentary questions, 46+ debates, and an attendance record that puts most MPs to shame. Here's the complete compilation.
The Numbers Behind the Noise
Before diving into his viral moments, consider the track record. According to PRS India's MP tracker, Chadha has:
- Asked 317 questions in Rajya Sabha
- Participated in 46+ debates
- Maintained 85%+ attendance (with 100% in multiple sessions)
- Submitted multiple Rule 267 notices for urgent discussions
For context, several Punjab MPs from other parties have recorded single-digit question counts and near-zero debate participation in the same period. When Business Standard reported his Winter Session report card, it showed 25 questions in a single session — more than some MPs ask in their entire term.
1. "Tax to Live, Tax to Die" — The Life Cycle of Taxation
When: Budget Sessions 2025 & 2026 | Virality: Massive
Perhaps his most iconic intervention. Chadha structured an entire argument around what he called the "Life Cycle of Taxation" — demonstrating how Indians are taxed at every stage of life, from birth to death.
He pointed out GST on hospital beds (for birth), school fees, textbooks, wedding venues, and even funeral items. The devastating punchline: "Tax to live, tax to die, and tax on everything in between."
The speech went viral not just because of the rhetoric, but because Chadha backed it with specific GST rates on everyday items that resonated with every household. Times of India covered it as a "stormy tax speech" that exposed the burden on common citizens.
2. "Pay Taxes Like England, Get Services Like Somalia"
When: Budget Session 2026 | Virality: Extremely viral
This one-liner became perhaps the most-shared parliamentary quote of 2026. During his budget speech, Chadha drew a sharp comparison: "In India, we pay taxes like England but receive public services like Somalia."
The line captured a frustration millions feel — a massive tax base funding a government that struggles to deliver basic services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure comparable to nations with similar tax rates. It was shared across Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp millions of times.
3. "The Good, The Bad & The Way Forward" — Budget 2026 Dissection
When: February 9, 2026 | Virality: Very high
Instead of the usual opposition-bashing-government routine, Chadha delivered what ABP News called a "comprehensive and data-backed assessment" of the Union Budget. He titled it "The Good, The Bad & The Way Forward" — praising growth-oriented measures while criticizing structural weaknesses.
The Good (he acknowledged):
- Capital expenditure push for infrastructure
- STT hike on derivatives to curb speculation ("Nearly 90% of retail investors lose money in F&O — turning markets into gambling")
The Bad (he criticized):
- Middle class paying higher effective tax rates than corporates
- Healthcare budget woefully inadequate
- Real wages declining 16% since FY18
The Way Forward (he proposed):
- Abolish LTCG tax on equities for individual investors
- Inflation-linked salary revision for workers
- Standard deduction increase for salaried class
This balanced approach — giving credit where due while offering constructive criticism — is what set Chadha apart from typical opposition speeches.
4. Abolish LTCG Tax on Equities
When: February 9, 2026 | Virality: High (financial community)
During the budget debate, Chadha made a specific demand: make Long-Term Capital Gains tax on equities zero for individual investors. As News18 reported, his argument was precise:
- When STT was introduced, LTCG was zero — now investors face double taxation
- Countries like Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong, and New Zealand have zero LTCG
- Removing it would boost household wealth and shift savings from gold/real estate into productive equities
His exact words: "My demand: Make Long Term Capital Gain Tax on equities NIL for individual investors." The financial community widely shared this as a rare instance of a politician understanding market taxation.
5. Food Adulteration Crisis — "Feeding Children Urea and Detergent"
When: February 4, 2026 | Virality: High
In one of his most disturbing interventions, Chadha raised the alarm in Rajya Sabha about India's food adulteration crisis, calling it a "major public health emergency."
The numbers he cited were shocking:
- 71% of milk samples tested contained urea
- 64% had chemical neutralizers like sodium bicarbonate
- 25% of all food samples tested between 2014-2026 were adulterated
- Vegetables injected with oxytocin (linked to cancer, heart failure, infertility)
- Garam masala mixed with brick and wood powder
- Tea containing synthetic coloring agents
- Poultry injected with anabolic steroids
His most emotional line: "Imagine a mother giving her child a glass of milk, thinking it contains calcium and protein. She has no idea she is feeding her child a dangerous mixture of urea and detergent."
As FoodManifest reported, he demanded strengthening FSSAI with better testing infrastructure, increased manpower, and stricter penalties.
6. Airport Food Pricing — The ₹100 Water Bottle
When: Winter Session 2024 | Virality: Very high, led to government action
This one actually led to real policy change. Chadha questioned in Rajya Sabha: "A water bottle costs ₹100, and tea is priced at ₹200-250. Can't the government establish affordable canteens at airports?"
The speech went massively viral. And then something unusual happened — the government actually acted. The Civil Aviation Ministry launched the Udaan Yatri Cafe initiative, providing food at airports starting at just ₹20. As Times of India reported, the cafes rolled out at airports in Kolkata, Chennai, and beyond.
Even his wife, actress Parineeti Chopra, publicly praised him for "fixing a real problem".
This is arguably Chadha's biggest concrete win — a parliamentary speech that directly led to affordable food options at Indian airports.
7. Gig Workers' Rights — "They Are Not Robots"
When: Winter Session 2025 | Virality: High
Chadha didn't just speak about gig workers — he actually worked as a delivery rider to understand their reality. Then he took their fight to Parliament.
His demands were specific:
- End forced 10-minute delivery pressure
- Social security for gig workers (health insurance, accident coverage)
- Fair pay with transparent algorithms
- Dignity and safety as basic rights
As he told The Federal: "These people are not robots. Their exploitation should stop. We are not anti-business. We are anti-exploitation. There is a huge difference."
He added: "We are not asking for the sun, the moon, and the stars. We are asking for very elementary things — fair pay, better working conditions, social security, dignity, and safety."
The intervention was credited with pushing the government to finalize draft social security rules for gig workers and effectively ending the dangerous 10-minute delivery mandate.
8. Airline Passenger Rights — "Airlines Penalize You for Minutes, Delay You for Hours"
When: Budget Session 2026 | Virality: High
Chadha flagged a hypocrisy that every Indian flyer has experienced: airlines charge hefty fees for excess baggage and late check-ins, but offer minimal compensation when flights are delayed for hours.
His argument resonated because it was relatable — every Indian who has sat at an airport gate watching the departure time slip by three hours understood exactly what he meant. The speech sparked widespread debate about a comprehensive passenger rights framework.
9. "Right to Recall" — Fire Your MP
When: February 11, 2026 | Virality: Going viral
Chadha's most recent and perhaps most radical proposal: give voters the power to recall non-performing MPs and MLAs mid-term. As Indian Express reported, he argued:
"If voters can HIRE a neta, they should be able to FIRE the neta too."
He pointed out that 24+ democracies worldwide (including the US and Switzerland) already have recall provisions. His proposed safeguards:
- 35-40% voter threshold needed to trigger a recall petition
- 18-month cooling period after election
- Clear grounds — only for proven misconduct, fraud, corruption, or serious neglect
- 50%+ majority needed in the recall vote
As Hindustan Times noted, he framed it sharply: "If we can impeach the President, Vice President, and judges, and move a no-confidence motion against a government mid-term, then why should voters be forced to tolerate a non-performing MP for five full years?"
10. The Inflation-Linked Salary Revision Act
When: February 9, 2026 | Virality: Moderate but significant
Perhaps his most policy-heavy proposal, Chadha demanded a law that would mandate wage indexation to inflation — ensuring that real wages don't erode over time. He cited data showing that real wages in India have declined 16% since FY18, meaning workers are effectively earning less every year despite nominal salary increases.
The proposal would require periodic salary revisions linked to the Consumer Price Index, ensuring workers' purchasing power doesn't silently erode.
11. Health Insurance Exploitation
When: Winter Session 2025 | Virality: Moderate
Chadha raised concerns about private hospitals denying cashless treatment to insured patients and the systematic rejection of insurance claims. He highlighted how middle-class families pay premium health insurance only to be told at the hospital that their policy "doesn't cover" their specific condition — forcing them to pay out of pocket anyway.
12. Middle Class "Crushed Like a Sandwich"
When: Budget Session 2026 | Virality: Very high
Across multiple interventions, Chadha built a comprehensive case for the Indian middle class being squeezed from all sides:
- Higher effective tax rates than corporates (income tax + GST + cess + surcharge)
- Rising inflation eroding purchasing power
- Stagnant real wages (down 16% since FY18)
- GST on essentials that disproportionately affects middle-income households
- Inadequate public services despite high tax compliance
He demanded increasing the standard deduction for salaried employees and restructuring the tax system to ease the burden on the middle class.
Why It Matters
Raghav Chadha is 37 years old. He's a Chartered Accountant by training. He represents Punjab in the Rajya Sabha. And he has managed something rare in Indian politics — making parliamentary debates go viral for the right reasons.
His interventions aren't just rhetorical flourishes. The airport food speech actually led to Udaan Yatri Cafes. The gig workers speech contributed to draft social security rules. The airline rights speech sparked a regulatory debate.
Whether you agree with his politics or not, there's something refreshing about an MP who:
- Does his homework (317 questions, data in every speech)
- Raises issues ordinary people actually face
- Maintains near-perfect attendance
- Proposes specific solutions, not just complaints
- Occasionally gets results
In an era where parliamentary proceedings are often reduced to walkouts and adjournments, Chadha has shown that the floor of the House can still be used for what it was meant for — representing the people who sent you there.
Data sourced from PRS India, Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Times of India, News18, ABP News, The Federal, India TV News, and Sansad TV.
