Delhi CM Atishi Urges LG VK Saxena To Make 10,000 Bus Marshals Permanent

New Delhi, November 11: In a decisive move, the Aam Aadmi Pary’s (AAP) Delhi Government has resolved to secure permanent appointments for 10,000 Bus Marshals who lost their jobs due to ‘BJP’s dirty politics’. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, after a unanimous cabinet meeting, announced that Delhi ministers would submit a proposal to the Lieutenant Governor (LG), urging a formal policy to make these positions permanent.

The Delhi government, aiming to provide stable employment to underprivileged youth and enhance women’s safety in buses, has committed to funding the deployment to salaries of Bus Marshals entirely, even if the Centre or LG introduces their own policy for Bus Marshals. The Delhi government’s decision will provide employment to young people from poor families, and women will feel safe again in buses. ‘Pre-Diwali Gift’: AAP Government To Hire Terminated Bus Marshals As Civil Defence Volunteers To Fight Pollution in Delhi.

CM Atishi said, “Since 2015, when the Aam Aadmi Party came into power in Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal became the Chief Minister, the elected government of Delhi has taken several significant steps for women’s safety. Whether it’s installing CCTV cameras across the city or appointing marshals in buses, the Delhi government, under Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance, has continuously worked for women’s safety.”

She added, “Women who study, work, and have grown up in Delhi know very well how challenging it is to travel on DTC buses. They experience harassment and inappropriate behavior. To address this, bus marshals were appointed in DTC buses to prevent such behavior. Since 2015, marshals have been deployed in two shifts to ensure the safety of women, seniors, and children.” AAP, BJP Spar Over Reinstatement of Bus Marshals’ in Delhi, Video Shows Leaders Shouting at Each Other During Meeting.

However, in 2023, the BJP, through its officials, disrupted this scheme. First, they stopped the salaries of bus marshals from April 2023, and then, in October 2023, they removed all bus marshals from their jobs.

CM Atishi stated, “For the past year, bus marshals have struggled on the streets. AAP MLAs and ministers stood with them in this fight, facing police batons and arrests. Finally, this struggle succeeded, and the central government had to concede.” She added that, a few days ago, the Delhi government decided to deploy bus marshals in the fight against pollution for the coming four months.

CM Atishi said, “Despite this, a major issue still lies before the people and the Delhi government — the issue of women’s safety. Without marshals on buses, women feel unsafe, and incidents of inappropriate behavior have started again. Seniors, too, feel unsafe on DTC buses without marshals.”

She shared that, “Yesterday, the Delhi government’s cabinet held a meeting on this matter. A long discussion took place about forming a scheme for the permanent appointment of marshals. In this regard, the Transport Commissioner mentioned in his note that appointing bus marshals permanently or temporarily is a matter of services, which falls under the jurisdiction of the LG, as it involves public order and safety.”

CM Atishi said, “All ministers in the Delhi government will send a proposal to the LG for making the bus marshals permanent. We request the LG to create a policy for their permanent deployment so that marshals can be placed in every bus in two shifts, ensuring women feel safe.”

She added, “Another decision was taken, with consensus among all ministers, acknowledging that it may take the LG up to six months to finalize this policy. However, women’s safety cannot be compromised during this time.”

CM Atishi said, “We will send a proposal to the LG to immediately re-deploy the 10,000 bus marshals who were on duty in Delhi’s buses until October 31, 2023, as a temporary measure until their permanent appointment. This is crucial to maintaining the safety of Delhi’s women.”

CM Atishi reiterated, “I hope the LG approves this proposal promptly so that women, children, and seniors in Delhi can once again feel safe while traveling on buses. The Delhi government is committed to funding the current or permanent deployment of bus marshals, covering all necessary costs.”

Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj recounted that the Delhi Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for all Delhi MLAs, from both the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP, to collectively meet the Lieutenant Governor (LG) on October 3, the first day of Navratri.

The Delhi Minister added that the entire Delhi cabinet was set to meet the LG on October 3 to ensure he signed the necessary document to reinstate the bus marshals. “Although AAP MLAs and ministers arrived as planned, not a single BJP MLA showed up,” said Saurabh Bharadwaj.

“That evening, police reportedly cut the power, used lathi (baton) charges, and arrested AAP MLAs and ministers, taking them to the police station,” he shared.

Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj explained that on October 5, Vijender Gupta requested a meeting, which was promptly granted by the Chief Minister. Saurabh Bharadwaj further stated, “The entire cabinet was present, along with representatives of the bus marshals. We have video recordings of every minute. If Vijender Gupta, the BJP, or the LG claim otherwise, we are ready to make it public.”

The Minister continued, “The consensus was that if the cabinet passed this proposal, the LG would sign it. This assurance came from Vijender Gupta, and we have it on video. The cabinet passed the proposal, and after great difficulty, we managed to escort Vijender Gupta to the LG’s residence, despite several attempts by him to leave along the way.”

Despite pressure from media colleagues and the bus marshals, Vijender Gupta ultimately went to the LG House, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj noted. “Our Chief Minister accompanied him in the car, but there they betrayed 10,700 bus marshals by not signing the proposal,” he emphasized.

Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj continued, “When Vijender Gupta emerged, he spoke to the media, and from October 5 until today, November 11, the proposal remains unapproved. Instead, the LG took another U-turn, and his appointed officer in the Transport Department noted that this matter directly concerns Services and Public Order—subjects reserved under the LG’s authority. This statement was made by the officer they appointed, not us.”

The Delhi Minister stated, “We have now held a meeting with our ministers and passed a resolution, as at this rate of policy-making, it will take months or even years.” He continued, “I am aware of your working methods; it will take years to finalize this policy, and in the meantime, these poor bus marshals will be ruined.”

He further said, “They do not have money for food today, they don’t have money to pay rent, and they are each under debts of two lakh rupees. Many have already faced immense hardships. Some people have even taken their own lives. That’s why we’re saying, keep singing praises of your policy, keep drafting your schemes, and when it’s finally ready, there will be no need to mislead these bus marshals any longer. Just reinstate their salaries now.”

“I am appealing to the LG: stop twisting this issue. It has been dragged on for months. Reinstating these bus marshals will allow them to support their families again. While the LG resides comfortably, these are Delhi’s poor—our brothers and sisters—who need immediate relief. Politics on such issues is inappropriate; they deserve prompt action,” concluded Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.