In recent days, the political scene in Delhi has intensified with a significant protest led by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj. This demonstration took place outside the residence of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, where Bharadwaj and other AAP leaders voiced their grievances regarding the regularisation of bus marshals and civil defence volunteers. The protest stems from a feeling of betrayal felt by approximately 10,000 bus marshals who have been awaiting job security and recognition.
Bharadwaj expressed his frustration, stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had misled the bus marshals. He recounted how BJP leader Vijender Gupta had promised that the bus marshals would be regularised if a resolution was passed by the cabinet and submitted to the Lieutenant Governor.
However, Bharadwaj claimed that both the Lieutenant Governor and BJP leaders had failed to keep their promises, letting down the bus marshals and the citizens of Delhi. His remarks came while he was being taken away by the police, highlighting the tensions surrounding the protest.
This protest was not an isolated incident; it followed an earlier demonstration where Bharadwaj and other AAP leaders were also detained by the police at Chandgi Ram Akhara.
The AAP has consistently accused the BJP of backtracking on their commitment to regularise bus marshals, especially after a resolution was passed by the cabinet led by Chief Minister Atishi.
In an attempt to address the grievances of the bus marshals, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena met with a delegation of marshals in his office. Following this meeting, the Delhi BJP took to social media platform X to announce that Saxena had assured the marshals that their requests would be positively considered.
The BJP claimed that they do not politicise humanitarian issues, framing their involvement as a means of facilitating dialogue between the marshals and the government.
However, Chief Minister Atishi had a different perspective on the situation. She clarified that the regularisation of bus marshals falls under service matters managed by the Lieutenant Governor, insisting that the BJP was not pressuring him to act.
She further explained that the AAP had called an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the issue and had passed a resolution to regularise the bus marshals, underscoring that it is now the BJP’s responsibility to ensure their reinstatement.
The controversy surrounding the bus marshals dates back to October of the previous year when Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena terminated their services. Since then, the marshals have been actively protesting for their jobs and rights, which has become a point of contention between the AAP and the BJP.
The current state of affairs reflects a broader political struggle in Delhi, where various parties are grappling for influence and control over local governance. The protests, police detentions, and ongoing negotiations symbolise the challenges that arise when political promises clash with administrative actions.
The AAP has been vocal in its condemnation of the BJP’s actions, accusing them of using the issue of bus marshals for political gain while neglecting the welfare of the individuals involved.
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve and whether the bus marshals will finally receive the job security they have been seeking.
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