The AAP staged a dharna outside the Lt Governor's office on Saturday.

Case against AAP MLAs after high drama during bus marshals' protest in Delhi

A case has been registered against several AAP MLAs, including Saurabh Bhardwaj, after a confrontation with BJP MLA Vijender Gupta over the reinstatement of bus marshals.

by · India Today

In Short

  • AAP and BJP sparred over issue of reinstatement of bus marshals
  • AAP accused BJP of unwillingness to meet Lt Governor
  • FIR against AAP MLAs for 'intimidating' BJP leader Vijender Gupta

A case has been registered against several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, for allegedly intimidating BJP leader Vijender Gupta and trying to stop his car.

On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi met BJP MLAs at the Delhi Secretariat and convinced them to accompany her to the Lt Governor's office to submit a note on the issue of reinstatement of bus marshals and get his approval on it.

However, AAP leaders claimed that the BJP MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta, were unwilling to accompany them to the Lt Governor's office along with a delegation of bus marshals.

Videos shared by AAP on social media showed Bharadwaj falling on Gupta's feet. The BJP accused the AAP members of trying to intimidate Gupta and blocking his path. The party also accused Chief Minister Atishi of forcefully getting inside Gupta's car.

Following the incident, an FIR was registered against Bharadwaj and other AAP leaders under Sections 3(5) (criminal intimidation), 351(2) (criminal conspiracy), 126(2) (obstruction of public duties) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Bharadwaj and other AAP workers were detained on Saturday for protesting outside the office of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena demanding the reinstatement of bus marshals. They accused the Lt Governor of not meeting the delegation of bus marshals and accused the BJP of betraying the people.

The BJP countered AAP's charge, accusing the Arvind Kejriwal-led party of indulging in "political theatrics". The party also shared pictures of Lt Governor meeting the bus marshals inside his office.

The issue revolves around the removal of over 10,000 civil defence volunteers deployed as marshals in public buses, a decision made last year after the civil defence directorate raised objections, citing that the volunteers were meant for disaster management.