The controversy surrounding the recruitment of bus marshals in Delhi has intensified, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of evading its commitments and failing to address the pressing issue.
During a recent interaction with the Media, Bharadwaj claimed that the BJP was exposed for its reluctance to take action, while the AAP and Congress were actively working to resolve the matter.
Bharadwaj specifically targeted BJP leader Vijender Gupta, questioning him about the timeline for issuing an official order regarding the induction of bus marshals. He expressed frustration, stating that despite the Delhi government releasing the order, it has not yet been signed by the relevant authorities.
This situation has left many bus marshals, who have been seeking resolution for over a year, feeling neglected. Bharadwaj pointed out that the Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, only seemed to acknowledge the public pressure surrounding the issue in recent days, which has raised concerns about the sincerity of the BJP’s intentions.
The backdrop to these comments involves the recent protests led by Bharadwaj and other AAP leaders outside the residence of the Lieutenant Governor. During these protests, Bharadwaj was detained by the Delhi Police, which sparked further outrage among party members.
He stated that the BJP had let down the 10,000 bus marshals who had relied on the party’s promises of regularisation through the Lieutenant Governor’s office. This betrayal has caused significant frustration among those affected, as they were led to believe that their situation would be rectified.
Bharadwaj's comments came after the Chief Minister Atishi-led cabinet passed a resolution in the assembly to regularise the bus marshals. However, the AAP alleges that the BJP has since retreated from its previous commitments.
In response to the situation, the official Twitter handle of the Delhi BJP posted about a meeting between the Lieutenant Governor and a delegation of bus marshals, claiming that their requests would be positively considered.
The BJP emphasised that they do not intend to politicise humanitarian issues, highlighting their efforts to facilitate dialogue between the marshals and the Lieutenant Governor.
Despite these assurances, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi clarified that matters concerning the marshals fall under the purview of service issues, which are the responsibility of the Lieutenant Governor. She accused the BJP of not applying sufficient pressure on the LG to expedite the resolution of the marshals' situation.
The tension surrounding the bus marshals' recruitment stems from a decision made by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in October of the previous year, during which he terminated the services of the marshals. Since then, the marshals have been actively protesting for their reinstatement, seeking support from political leaders and government officials alike.
Follow us
