The BJP’s unfulfilled promise to reinstate Delhi’s unemployed bus marshals has triggered massive public outrage, with thousands staging a powerful protest in Civil Lines on Friday. Braving heavy rain, the protesters—once hailed as frontline safety personnel in Delhi’s buses—lined the streets to remind the ruling BJP of its pre-election assurance to restore their jobs. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has slammed the BJP for its betrayal, stating that five months into its government, not a single demand of the bus marshals has been addressed, forcing them to return to the streets in desperation and anger.
In a statement, the AAP has pointed out that bus marshals were deployed in Delhi buses to ensure women’s safety, and their presence made female passengers feel secure during their commutes. However, the BJP, which has consistently taken anti-women positions, was not comfortable with this initiative. Acting through the Lieutenant Governor, it terminated the services of thousands of these marshals. In the run-up to the election, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and other BJP leaders promised these marshals that their jobs would be regularised within 60 days of the BJP forming the government.
The AAP further noted that misled by these false promises, the marshals supported the BJP. But once in power, the BJP conveniently forgot its commitment and has been evading action on regularising their employment. The marshals are now asking: where is the BJP’s promise? Sixty days have turned into a hundred—what is the BJP’s real intention?
The marshals, meanwhile, said that on 31 October 2023, they were suddenly removed from service without any warning. When they asked for an explanation, they were given vague references to “rules.” Notably, both the Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly passed a resolution to regularise their services. Before the election, the BJP had promised to reinstate the marshals within 60 days of forming the government. But it has now been five months, and no action has been taken.
The marshals said, “We continue to protest and demand answers. We ask—where is our livelihood? Why is the BJP government ignoring us? Is the resolution passed by the Secretariat and the Assembly a lie? If these institutions are not to be taken seriously, why not shut them down altogether? The BJP government clearly does not respect official documents or institutional decisions. If it does not intend to regularise our jobs, it should have the courage to say so directly.”
The marshals further said they are protesting to reclaim their rights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they put their lives at risk to continue serving the public. They are not at fault; they deserve to get their jobs back. The Chief Minister is only offering verbal assurances. Most marshals come from economically weak backgrounds, and the loss of employment has made survival difficult. The BJP had promised to provide employment within 60 days of forming the government—but trusting the BJP was a grave mistake.
