Chaos in Delhi assembly as AAP, BJP clash over bus marshals

The first day of the special assembly session on Thursday began on a stormy note, as AAP-led Delhi government cornered the Lieutenant Governor over the issues of bus marshals and tree felling in Ridge area while the BJP demanded audit reports to be tabled in the House.

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Following the decision of Atishi being elected as the leader of the AAP in the legislature party, a special session was called for September 26-27.

While Speaker Ram Niwas Goel listed the names of leaders who will raise the issue, the BJP protested and demanded that the issue of delay in tabling the CAG reports in the House be discussed.

As the BJP voiced its demands, AAP began objecting and both parties began raising slogans against each other which prompted the Speaker to adjourn the session for 15 minutes.

BJP leaders protested by conducting a mock session outside the assembly, “There is no discussion over issues related to people welfare (in the Assembly). So we have created a replica (of the House) to run the session during which our MLAs raised issues concerning the public.” said BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma.

After the session, resumed BJP again raised slogans, as AAP MLA from Kondli Kuldeep Kumar mentioned the issue of bus marshals. He held the L-G and BJP responsible for removing 10,000 bus marshals and non-payment of salaries.

Other AAP MLAs followed suit, Madan Lal and Jarnail Singh accused a BJP legislator of saying that women were sexually assaulted while bus marshals were present.

The BJP demanded from the government to bring a proposal to reinstate the bus marshals and make them permanent. BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht said, “What stops you from bringing a resolution to reinstate the bus marshals, the government is misleading and playing politics on the issue.”

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta claimed that in a letter to the L-G on October 11, 2023, then chief minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote that the correct legal position may be ascertained and till it’s determined, services of all civil defence volunteers may be terminated by October.

Gupta also proposed that a resolution be passed in the House to restore the jobs of the bus marshals and provide them permanent employment.