Delhi: AAP leaders join bus marshals in their protest seeking reinstatement

New Delhi [India], October 3 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj, Imran Hussain and Mukesh Ahlawat, joined the bus marshals in the protest at the Chandagiram Aakhara in Delhi, demanding their reinstatement.

The bus marshals have been protesting for getting reinstated after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena terminated their services in October last year.

AAP MLAs Dilip Pandey, Sanjeev Jha, Kuldeep Kumar, Rohit Mehraulia, Rajesh Gupta and others were also present at the protest site.

According to a resolution passed in recent Delhi Assembly Session, AAP and BJP Leaders were scheduled to meet the LG on the Marshals issue.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that they are waiting for BJP to join them in holding discussion with the LG on the issue.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “We are not here to fight. On 26th September, it was decided at the Delhi Assembly that on October 3rd, all MLAs and Ministers of AAP and BJP would go to meet (Delhi) LG and we would sign whichever paper we were asked to sign and they (bus marshals) would be appointed. We have come here today and we are waiting for BJP.”

The AAP official handle on X also posted about the protest and demanded LG VK Saxena to reinstate the bus marshals.

“Aam Aadmi Party MLAs have joined the protest of Bus Marshals and supported the demand for their reinstatement. LG sahab should reinstate these bus marshals soon so that they can also celebrate the festival happily with their children and family,” the AAP stated.

Last month, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who was a cabinet minister at that time, wrote a letter to Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena, requesting him to restore the jobs of bus marshals.

In her letter addressed to LG Saxena on Wednesday, Atishi said, “These Bus Marshals were primarily deployed through the pool of Civil Defence volunteers of Government of NCT of Delhi. Surprisingly, 8 years after the implementation of this scheme and its successful functioning, in a completely unforeseen move, their salaries were suddenly stopped on your orders. Their callout duties were ended on frivolous grounds, thus putting the Bus Marshal Scheme in a limbo.’

“We have given numerous directions to the department to reinitiate the process of engaging bus marshals. However, services are in your domain, so this decision needs to be taken at your end. We request you to kindly look into this matter humanely as this needs your urgent attention.

As the elected government in Delhi, we are ready to extend all possible help and support required to restore bus marshals to their jobs. We hope that this matter will be considered and a positive decision is taken by your goodself at the earliest,” Atishi added.