Delhi Congress President Arvinder Singh Lovely joins DTC and Cluster Bus marshals' dharna at Delhi Secretariat

NEW DELHI: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Shri Arvinder Singh Lovely today joined the dharna of over 10,000 DTC and Cluster Bus marshals outside the Delhi Secretariat at ITO, demanding payment of their pending wages and regularisation of their services, and pledged Delhi Congress support to them in their fight against injustice. The DTC and Cluster Bus marshals have been agitating for a long time for their wages and regularisation of their jobs, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Shri Lovely was accompanied by senior leaders and ex-MLAs Shri Mukesh Sharma, Shri Hari Shankar Gupta and Shri Jitender Kumar Kochar. Shri Lovely and the Congress leaders were welcomed by the marshals shouting slogans, but when they raised anti-Government slogans, Shri Lovely asked them not to do so as Congress did not want to politicise the issue, but find a satisfactory solution to their demands.

Shri Lovely vows Congress support for bus marshals’ demands, urges BJP and AAP to collaborate on solutions instead of politicizing. Accuses Delhi Government of improper employment and recommends unity to meet Lt. Governor for a resolution.

Shri Lovely said that it was totally against rules and regulations to kick these marshals around like a football for no fault of theirs. He said that first these marshals were misguided in the name of Civil Defence, and now they were being misled in the name of Delhi Home Guards. He said that if the Government’s intention was honest, the Government should forthwith change the Delhi Home Guards recruitment rules and issue orders for the regularisation of their services. He said that the Government can also appoint these marshals to various posts in the DTC its related departments through the DTC Board.

Shri Lovely said that for the first time after independence, helpless people like the bus marshals, along with their families, including kids, were sitting on dharna on the day of a pious festival like Karva Chauth.

Shri Mukesh Sharma assures strong Congress support for bus marshals’ demands and readiness to take to the streets if necessary. Expresses concern over the lack of basic amenities for marshals on dharna. Notes that Delhi Congress has written to the Lt. Governor about the marshals’ situation and criticizes the government’s offer of Home Guard jobs without rule amendments.

The marshals, carrying posters and placards, shouted slogans as they were angry with the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party for neglecting their demands, as their present plight was due to the collusion between the BJP and AAP. The marshals have vowed to take their fight to its logical conclusion as it was a matter of life and death for them and their families. Congress leader Shri Mohammed Usman also joined the dharna of the marshals.