In a major pre-Diwali relief, the AAP government has secured four months of employment for Bus Marshals, announcing their deployment in its battle against pollution. Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj highlighted that in a major victory for Delhi’s Bus Marshals, their relentless struggle, backed by Arvind Kejriwal, has compelled the BJP-led central government to retreat. Thousands of marshals, unjustly removed from their jobs, will now be reappointed as civil defense volunteers, with a promise of permanent reinstatement in sight.
Sharing a few poignant snippets from the meet-up with Bus Marshals after this important announcement, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi stated on her ‘X’ handle (erstwhile Twitter): “The son of people of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, has once again fulfilled his promise. The Delhi government is reinstating the Bus Marshals and Civil Defence Volunteers who were sacked by the BJP. In the coming 4 months, they will be deployed in pollution control related works. Congratulations to all the bus marshals.”
“They have also been promised that even after 4 months, a way will be found to provide them permanent employment. Today Arvind Kejriwal showed that he finds peace only after getting the work of Delhiites done in some way or the other,” her post concluded.
Following the announcement, A delegation of Bus Marshals met with Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, and AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar expressing their heartfelt gratitude for the AAP government’s support at Delhi Secretariat. They extended special thanks to AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal, acknowledging his unwavering backing throughout their struggle. The marshals, who had faced months of uncertainty and job loss, credited Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership and commitment for the breakthrough that led to their reappointment and the ongoing efforts to secure their permanent reinstatement.
Sharing the important development, in a press conference, Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “Not just Delhi, but the entire nation has witnessed in the past few months how the sons and daughters of Delhi, working in various small jobs in different departments, have been treated. Some were working as civil defense volunteers, others as bus marshals in Delhi’s DTC buses.”
Highlighting the plight of Delhi’s youth, the Delhi Cabinet Minister mentioned, “Some daughters were employed as nursing orderlies—sweeper-cum- security guards in Delhi hospitals, while some other brothers were working as data entry operators in government hospitals, preparing OPD cards. Many sisters were working in the Women’s Commission. But, under a malicious political strategy and at the behest of the BJP’s central government, thousands of these sons and daughters were thrown out of their jobs.”
Hitting out at the BJP, Saurabh Bharadwaj asserted that the central government didn’t even consider how these families would survive. Earning just Rs 18,000 to 20,000 a month, these people, who were the sole breadwinners for their families, were left to wonder where the next meal would come from, how they would pay their rent. Without any concern or understanding, the central government ruthlessly rendered these thousands of workers unemployed.
“Now, these unemployed individuals have started coming together. The recent struggle of Delhi’s Bus Marshals on the streets was supported by our MLAs and ministers, who sat down with them in protest, challenging the central government. Arvind Kejriwal stood firmly with these poor sons and daughters and declared that whether it’s about the jobs of Bus Marshals, contractual workers in the DCW, or the data entry operators removed from hospitals, he would fight for them and ensure their jobs are restored,” he affirmed.
The Delhi Minister said, “In this struggle, the bus marshals faced repeated arrests, were dragged by the police on the streets, and even false cases were lodged against us, our MLAs, and the Bus Marshals by BJP MLA Vijender Gupta. The marshals were beaten, and female bus marshals were assaulted, but they did not give up. Today, their struggle and the relentless efforts of Arvind Kejriwal have borne fruit, and finally, the central government has been forced to back down.”
“This is the power of democracy, and in the face of this democratic strength, the central government had to yield. They have accepted that the Bus Marshals and Civil Defense Volunteers can be employed by the government for its work. Just like how these Civil Defense Volunteers were previously deployed to help in the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme and to carry out the “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” campaign at every intersection in Delhi, contributing to the fight against pollution, their services are now recognized again,” stated the Minister.
Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj further added that these Civil Defense Volunteers, who had been removed from their duties as Bus Marshals, will be reappointed for four months, and during this time, efforts will be made to reinstate them as permanent Bus Marshals.
Congratulating the Bus Marshals on this momentous occasion, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “I would like to congratulate all the Bus Marshals, especially those who struggled for months, were dragged by the police along with us on the streets from Chaudhary Chandu Ram Akhara to police stations like Civil Lines and Burari.”
“I particularly want to salute the brave Bus Marshal sisters who were kicked and abused by Vijender Gupta, who filed false cases against them after assaulting them. It is because of the courage and struggle of these women that today, thousands of Civil Defense Volunteers have hope once again for a better future,” concluded the Minister.
