Delhi’s political landscape has heated up over the ongoing controversy regarding the reinstatement of bus marshals. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj has accused the BJP of backtracking on their promises and avoiding the issue, which has left thousands of bus marshals in limbo since their termination in November 2023. Speaking to the media, Bharadwaj criticised BJP leaders, especially Vijender Gupta, for failing to push through the reinstatement of bus marshals as promised, despite a resolution being passed in the Delhi Assembly.
The bus marshals, deployed to ensure the safety of passengers in Delhi’s public transport system, were abruptly removed last year following questions from the revenue and finance departments about their deployment. AAP has maintained that the BJP and Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena have betrayed the marshals, despite promises to regularise their positions after the resolution was passed. Bharadwaj pointed out that the BJP had avoided engaging in the scheduled meeting with the LG, further stalling the marshals’ reinstatement.
In response, BJP MLA Vijender Gupta announced that the LG had accepted the proposal for reinstatement and that a meeting to discuss hiring provisions, especially for marginalized communities, would take place soon. However, the lack of immediate action has sparked protests from AAP leaders, including Bharadwaj, who, along with several others, was detained during a protest outside the LG’s residence.
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The tension between AAP and BJP continues, with both parties accusing each other of politicising the issue at the expense of Delhi’s bus marshals.