High Drama Unfolds In Delhi As AAP Minister Grabs BJP MLA's Foot Over Bus Marshals’ Issue | WATCH

In a dramatic turn of events, Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday was seen holding onto the foot of Delhi Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Vijendra Gupta in an attempt to convince him and other BJP legislators to accompany AAP leaders to meet Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena over the ongoing issue of bus marshals.

Additionally, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi left her car and sat in Gupta’s car while going to LG’s house to ensure they could not escape the situation. The AAP claimed that it emphasised their determination to push forward with the reinstatement agenda of the marshals.

“It was decided that we will go to the Lt Governor’s office with Vijender Gupta to submit the cabinet note. Now Gupta ji doesn’t want to sit in his own car. He is trying to run away,” Saurabh Bharadwaj said, following which he falls on Gupta’s feet.

Both the parties sparred over the issue of reinstatement of bus marshals, with both parties accusing each other of doing political drama. After the MLAs of both parties reached Saxena’s house, AAP accused the BJP of not asking him to sign the cabinet note, and held a protest outside the LG’s house.

The Police detained the AAP ministers and MLAs who held the protest citing that they did not have any permission for it. Bhardwaj, who was also detained, said, “BJP-LG have betrayed 10,000 bus marshals. BJP MLAs said that if you pass the cabinet note, they will get the bus marshals reinstated from LG. But LG Sahab has not signed the cabinet note, he will be cursed by 10,000 bus marshals.”

Atishi accuses BJP of betrayal

Atishi lashed out at the BJP after meeting with the LG, saying the party has “betrayed” the bus marshals. “Firstly, the BJP MLAs were not ready to come to meet the LG, but we managed to get them with us somehow. But even after coming here, they have not asked the LG to sign the cabinet note even a single time,” she said.

Atishi said that this is a complete betrayal by the BJP, and now the onus is on them to reinstate the bus marshals. “This is a betrayal against bus marshals. The things that were to be done by the Cabinet — to regularise bus marshals and civil defence volunteers — have been done. Now, the BJP has to regularise them and allot them joining letters,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Atishi met BJP MLAs at the Delhi Secretariat and convinced them to accompany her to LG Saxena to submit a note on the issue. It was earlier passed in a meeting of the Delhi Cabinet. AAP leaders claimed that the BJP MLAs refused to go to the LG office after the cabinet passed the note and tried to leave the meeting.

BJP accuses AAP of doing drama

The BJP, on the other hand, accused the AAP leaders of doing drama. “All these bus marshals were removed by Arvind Kejriwal and his letter is in the public domain. Now when the elections are about to come, the leaders of Aam Aadmi Party are remembering the bus marshals. When these people were busy doing political drama, the Honorable Lieutenant Governor was meeting the delegation of bus marshals and he also assured to take serious action on this matter,” said Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva.

What is the issue?

Over 10,000 civil defence volunteers deployed as marshals in public transport buses were removed last year after an objection was raised by directorate of civil defence that they are meant for disaster management duties.

(With inputs from agencies)