New Delhi [India], October 6 : AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday spoke on the ongoing controversy over bus marshals' recruitment, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of backing out of its commitments and avoiding the issue.
Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said "Yesterday, BJP was exposed on camera. The AAP and Congress are doing everything and BJP is only running away. We have seen Vijender Gupta running away. At the end, he said that the Lieutenant Governor has said that he has accepted the order of the Delhi Government that the marshals will be inducted."
Bharadwaj questioned BJP leader Vijender Gupta on when the official order would be issued. "I want to ask Vijender Gupta when the order will be released. They asked us to release the order and we did so but they did not get it signed. We just want to know when the order will be passed and at what time. The bus marshals have been going to the LG VK Saxena for a year and in the last two three days, he realized what public pressure is. The LG kept a private meeting with BJP members. I want him to show the notice of the meeting," he added.
On Saturday, the Delhi Police detained Bharadwaj and other AAP leaders who were protesting outside the LG's residence, demanding the regularization of bus marshals and civil defence volunteers.
"Today, the BJP has betrayed 10,000 bus marshals. Vijender Gupta has promised us that if we pass the resolution from the cabinet they will regularise bus marshals through the LG. But, today, both - the LG and BJP leaders have betrayed bus marshals and the people of Delhi," Saurabh Bharadwaj said while being taken in a bus.
The AAP has alleged that the BJP has stepped back from its promise that they will regularise bus marshals through the LG after the Chief Minister Atishi-led cabinet passed a resolution in the assembly.
BJP Delhi official handle posted on X about the meeting of LG Saxena with Bus Marshals and said, "The Lt Gov Delhi met with a delegation of Bus Marshals today and assured them that their request would be given positive consideration. The meeting was arranged by State President Virendra Sachdeva. The Delhi BJP does not believe in politicizing humanitarian causes, which is why we facilitated a direct meeting."
However, Delhi CM Atishi told ANI that the issue of Marshals comes under service matters that come under the LG, and the BJP is not putting pressure on him to do so.
The bus marshals have been protesting to get reinstated after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena terminated their services in October last year.