The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has challenged the BJP to honor its commitments and ensure the reinstatement of Bus Marshals. Senior AAP Leader and MLA Dilip Pandey criticized the BJP’s tendency to take U-Turns on its promises, urging the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to prioritize a meeting to resolve this urgent issue. Notably, Bus Marshals who were deployed for the safety of women in DTC and Cluster buses have been protesting for over a year since their abrupt termination. Subsequently, the Aam Aadmi Party has been constantly supporting their demands and most recently had requested for a joint meeting of all Delhi MLAs with the LG to seek the reinstatement of these marshals. Despite Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj having made repeated requests for a meeting, the LG office is yet to respond, leaving thousands of families in distress.
Senior AAP Leader and MLA Dilip Pandey stated that words like betrayal, U-turn, and broken promises seem to have found a new synonym, which is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “The whole country saw the BJP support the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) proposal to meet with the Lieutenant Governor (LG) on the 3rd, to once and for all end the struggle of the 10,000 Bus Marshals.”
“Yesterday also we informed the BJP, so that we could go and meet with the LG together as per the resolution. We expected them to tell us what time we could meet him on October 3rd. But the LG Office frivolously said that you mentioned October 3rd, but you didn’t explicitly ask for a time. So, today Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who had introduced the unanimously-passed resolution to reappoint the Bus Marshals in the assembly, has sent a letter to the LG asking for a time,” added the Timarpur MLA.
Dilip Pandey continued, “It’s strange that despite the Bus Marshals already being troubled, BJP leaders keep misleading them, saying arbitrary things like, ‘The AAP government didn’t smile while saying it,’ or ‘They didn’t put a full stop.’ Yet, whatever concerns the Bus Marshals brought to us, we accepted every time, and this time both the BJP and us agreed in the Assembly.
Further, the MLA also referred to the letter written by Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj to the LG, which read, “Attached is the Delhi Assembly resolution passed unanimously by both BJP and AAP MLAs on 26.9.2024, concerning the reinstatement of thousands of Bus Marshals. Despite sending a copy to your secretary, no meeting has been scheduled with the MLAs and government ministers. Since today is October 3, 2024, and no time has been confirmed despite our message at 10:26 AM, we urge you to schedule the meeting. Thousands of poor families are suffering, so please address this matter urgently.”
Disappointed by the LG’s inaction, Dilip Pandey highlighted the urgency of this meeting, and said that these 10,000 Bus Marshals represent more than just numbers and their families depend on them. “We urge the BJP not to break their promise or take a U-turn this time. We request, with folded hands, that the BJP and the LG honor the agreement. Let’s meet and sign the necessary papers, and give these families a Diwali gift so they can celebrate in peace. If this isn’t resolved, these families will curse you,” he said.
Senior AAP leader and Burari MLA, Sanjeev Jha, added that BJP’s lies have been exposed yet again. “It’s been over a year since Bus Marshals began protesting for their rightful demands. First, the BJP used the LG, to pressure officials to stop their salaries. And then, took their jobs away entirely. Despite the efforts of the Transport Minister, Finance Minister, and Chief Minister, they haven’t been reinstated.”
The MLA said that over 10,000 families have lost their livelihoods and are suffering because of the LG and BJP’s apathy. “Their children cannot go to school, and some have even committed suicide. How many innocent lives will be claimed by the dirty politics of the BJP? The LG is the head of Delhi, and it is his responsibility to ensure no injustice happens. I appeal to the LG to think about the families and these Bus Marshals for once. I hope the LG will acknowledge the seriousness of this and meet with the MLAs,” he further stated.
Senior AAP leader and Kondli MLA, Kuldeep Kumar, said that AAP MLAs accepted all the demands of the BJP MLAs for the greater good of the reinstatement of the bus marshals. “First, they asked us to bring a proposal to the Assembly, then they asked for a copy of it. After that, they asked us to hold a press conference, and we did all of this. Then they said they are bringing another proposal and want our approval on it and we gave our approval. It was then decided in the Assembly that on October 3rd, all MLAs would go to the LG to ensure the reinstatement of the bus marshals.
“Our ministers are ready to sign wherever the LG asks them to. But since the date was set, the BJP has been avoiding clarification if they will go with us to meet the LG. All the power lies with the LG, and he listens only to the BJP. We say to the BJP that if the LG is not giving us time, then you arrange the time. We are ready to go with you as well,” added the Kondli MLA.
