Big drama in Delhi as AAP and BJP accuse each other of treason over sacked bus marshals

AAP chief and health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj (third from right) gestures towards LoP Vijender Gupta (white shirt). | Photo credit: PTI

In Delhi on Saturday (October 5, 2024) there were dramatic scenes surrounding the issue of reinstating former bus guards. On that day, BJP MPs accompanied Chief Minister Atishi to Raj Niwas to discuss the issue. Protests by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs and their subsequent imprisonment; Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj falls at the feet of Leader of Opposition (LoP) Vijender Gupta and seeks his support for the cause of ex-bus marshals; and Mr Gupta claimed he was “attacked” by AAP MLAs.

AAP and the BJP had supported a resolution in the Assembly on September 26 to restore the jobs of the former bus marshals.

However, on Thursday (October 3, 2024), Mr. Bharadwaj led a protest by the former bus marshals near Raj Niwas, accusing the opposition party of backing out of the plan agreed by both parties to meet Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and complete the reinstatement process.

Nearly 10,000 people who were posted as bus marshals for women’s safety on public transport buses in the city were rendered jobless in October last year after an LG circular found that they had been appointed illegally. Since then, they have been holding demonstrations demanding their reinstatement.

Emergency meeting

The day began with an emergency Cabinet meeting called by the CM around 10.30 am on the issue. She had also invited BJP MLAs to the meeting. The Cabinet approved a note to reinstate the former bus guards and regularize their jobs.

At around 2 pm, the BJP MPs went to Raj Niwas with Ms Atishi to seek the LG’s approval for the Cabinet note. AAP MPs were not allowed entry. They then staged a protest near Mr. Saxena’s residence at around 4 p.m. The demonstrators were briefly arrested by the police.

Meanwhile, the Raj Niwas CM resigned and accused the BJP of “betraying” the cause of the former bus marshals. She alleged that the opposition MPs did not ask the LG to sign the cabinet note during their meeting.

“This is a complete betrayal by the BJP and now it is up to them to reinstate the bus marshals,” she added.

A few minutes later, when Mr. Gupta emerged, the Health Minister fell at his feet and said he was “begging” the LoP for support in the matter. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal praised Mr Bharadwaj in a post on for the people. I appeal to the LG and the BJP to quit politics and reinstate the party immediately [former] Bus station.”

Reacting to this, Mr Gupta said that the AAP MPs present at the Cabinet meeting had “misbehaved” towards him. He accused Mr Bharadwaj and other AAP MPs of “attacking” him and said he had lodged a police complaint regarding both incidents.

Around 5 pm, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, who was leading a group of former bus marshals to Mr Saxena’s residence, said: “Today, after a meeting with the LG, the [former] Bus marshals understood the truth.”