In a dramatic U-turn, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Monday put the ball back in Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena's court over formulation of a policy for long-term engagement of 10,000 Civil Defence Volunteers (CDVs) as bus marshals.
The squabble marks an intensification in the political tussle between the elected government and the Raj Niwas that reports directly to the Central government, with CM Atishi urging the L-G to draft a policy that she claimed was beyond her domain.
She also requested Saxena to reinstate the 10,000 bus marshals immediately on an "as-is-where-is basis" so that women safety in buses is not compromised over the next four-five months that would be required to draft a policy for their permanent engagement.
As chances of long-term engagement of bus marshals continue to diminish with each passing day of the tenure of the AAP government, the latest move by the AAP government appears an attempt to shield itself from any blame for delay over the matter in an election year.
Atishi's move to ask the L-G to prepare the proposal has come at a time when, within a week of an advice given by Raj Niwas to her on similar lines for directing officials to formulate a policy for long-term engagement of CDVs and bus marshals.
For now, the L-G is considering a proposal from the AAP government to engage the 10,000 out-of-job CDVs as green warriors for four months.
In the absence of bus marshals, CM Atishi pointed to increase in harassment of women in buses. She said at a press conference that after a long discussion with officials she came to the conclusion that the issue of reengagement of bus marshals was related to service department and public order, both being reserved subjects which fall in the domain of L-G Saxena.
"We have sought the L-G to come out with a policy on the issue so that bus marshals can be deployed on a two-shift basis in public transport buses," said CM Atishi at a joint press conference with Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj.
Reiterating the AAP government's commitment towards women's safety, CM Atishi said travelling in public transport buses was a harassing experience for women and to check this bus marshals were deployed in 2015 by then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
But, the BJP through its officials had objections to the scheme. In April 2023, bus marshals' salary was stopped and from October 2023 Civil Defence Volunteers working as bus marshals were removed,\" she said.
For last one year, bus marshals, supported by AAP ministers and leaders, were agitating on roads for re-engagement and finally the Central government had to bow before their demands, she said.
"As you know, the AAP government has decided to re-engage the CDVs for anti-pollution duties. However, the bigger question that needs to be addressed is that of women safety in public transport buses over the next four months," she said.
Bhardwaj said the L-G and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta of BJP were playing tricks and delaying the reappointment of bus marshals.
"My appeal to the L-G is not to hold up the issue and utilize his powers to instantly reinstate the bus marshals," he said.
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