CM Atishi rushes into car, Bharadwaj lies on feet of BJP MLAs: High voltage drama over bus marshal restoration

Delhi political brawl: Controversy over the removal of more than 10,000 civil defense volunteers, who had been deployed as bus marshals in Delhi’s public transport system, took center stage again on Saturday. The volunteers were initially dismissed last year after the Directorate of Civil Defense objected, stating that they had been appointed for disaster management duties, not public transport services.

On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, accompanied by members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, marched to the office of Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena. Their goal was to submit a cabinet note seeking approval for the reinstatement of bus marshals. However, this led to a political showdown between the two parties.

AAP claims BJP stalling the process

According to the Aam Aadmi Party, after the submission of the cabinet note, BJP legislators attempted to leave the Delhi Secretariat without addressing the issue. Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj reportedly stopped them by holding their feet, creating a scene that captured media attention.

Chief Minister Atishi shared her views on the incident, stating that BJP MLAs had requested a meeting with her to discuss the bus marshal issue. "We explained to them that the matter falls under the purview of the LG, as it involves service matters," she said. "But today, the BJP’s intentions were exposed in front of our entire cabinet. They are unwilling to push the LG for a decision, and instead, they are politicizing the issue."

ऐतिहासिक 🔥💯

बस मार्शलों की बहाली के लिए आज बीजेपी विधायकों के सामने कैबिनेट नोट पास करने के बाद उस नोट को लेकर LG के पास गए CM @AtishiAAP जी, AAP मंत्री व विधायक।

भाजपा विधायकों ने भागने का पूरा प्रयास किया लेकिन मंत्री @Saurabh_MLAgk जी व बाकी AAP नेताओ ने उन्हें भागने नहीं… pic.twitter.com/4rC4nsMHLs

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 5, 2024

Emergency cabinet meeting called

Atishi further mentioned that an emergency cabinet meeting was convened, during which the resolution to regularize the bus marshals was passed. Despite this, BJP MLAs were allegedly reluctant to urge the LG to sign off on the cabinet note. "This is a betrayal of the bus marshals," Atishi declared. "The work that the cabinet needed to do—regularizing the bus marshals and civil defense volunteers—has been completed. Now, it’s up to the BJP to get them regularized and issue their joining letters."

Kejriwal backs his ministers

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party's national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, voiced his support for his ministers. "I am proud of my ministers who are willing to go to any lengths, even falling at someone’s feet, to serve the people," Kejriwal remarked. He also urged the LG and the BJP to stop politicizing the issue and immediately rehire the bus marshals.

The political tension surrounding the bus marshal issue highlights the ongoing power struggle between the Delhi government and the LG’s office, with both sides blaming each other for the delay in resolving the matter.

मुझे गर्व है अपने मंत्रियों पर जो लोगों के काम करवाने के लिए किसी के पैरों में भी लेट जाते हैं।

मेरी LG साहिब और बीजेपी वालों से विनती है कि इस मुद्दे पर और राजनीति ना करें और तुरंत बस मार्शलों को नौकरी पर रखा जाए। https://t.co/9dOahTbvHe

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 5, 2024