The BJP and AAP on Monday locked in a heated debate over the issue of re-employment of bus marshals in the national Capital with the Chief Minister Atishi saying that the issue of continuation of their services falls under the purview of the Central government. This is the first time the Arvind Kejriwal government has admitted that services-related matters fall under the BJP led Central government. Meanwhile, BJP has slammed Atishi for betraying Civil Defence Volunteers (CDVs), saying the AAP has failed to reinstate them.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Atishi said that her government is sending a proposal to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for the formulation of a policy on retaining 10,000 bus marshals on permanent basis.

In a press conference, Atishi said that the removal of bus marshals has led to a rise in crimes against women on public transport buses. “At an all-minister meeting held on Sunday, the Transport Commissioner indicated that decisions on reinstating bus marshals fall under the authority of the Lieutenant Governor as it is a service-related matter,” the chief minister said, adding that the Delhi government is moving ahead with a proposal on an "as-is, where-is" basis, while it waits for a policy from the LG.

"The Delhi government is committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens and will provide the necessary financial resources for the marshals' salaries," Atishi said. She also expressed fear that the LG may "take months or even years" in coming up with a permanent solution to the matter.

Delhi Health and Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who was also present at the press conference, criticised the LG's handling of the matter, asserting that the matter must be dealt with urgently. He claimed that the transport officer appointed by the LG has classified the issue as a "reserved" subject, limiting the state's ability to take immediate action.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said it is unfortunate that despite the clear order of Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, Atishi’s government has not reinstated civil defense volunteers, who worked as bus marshals until October 2023, on duty since 1 November. “Furthermore, the promise to start their duty from 11 November has not been fulfilled,” he added.

“When the announcement came for a press conference by Chief Minister Atishi and Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, we hoped the government would fulfill its promise to assign these volunteers four months of duty and announce a committee to regularize them. However, it is disappointing that the Chief Minister did not reinstate the civil defense volunteers on duty and only engaged in political blame,” he claimed.

South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has said that the job of making the policy is of the Delhi government, but Chief Minister Atishi is saying that the Lieutenant Governor should make the policy. “It is clear that she wants to delay this matter further so that she can play politics on the pretext of these ten thousand volunteers. These volunteers from poor families have understood all the tricks of AAP and will take revenge for it in the upcoming assembly election,” he claimed.