– Abdul Bari Masoud
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the BJP-led Delhi government for abruptly removing 2,000 buses, leaving commuters stranded in the scorching heat. AAP alleged the move was to hand over tenders to the BJP’s capitalist friends in exchange for bribes.
AAP’s Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar addressed a press conference. She stated that bus stands across Delhi are overcrowded with people waiting for buses. She compared it to the AAP government, where people waited no more than one minute for a bus. Now, under the BJP, waits extend to an hour.
Kakkar said that under AAP, no passenger had to stand inside a bus. Every commuter had a seat. But now, under the BJP, buses are overcrowded, a direct result of removing 2,000 buses without any alternative arrangements.
During the AAP government, Delhi had a fleet of 7,582 DTC buses and 1,650 electric buses. Mohalla and Cluster bus services were also launched. AAP was preparing to introduce luxury buses.
Kakkar pointed out that Delhi’s population and vehicles keep increasing. A 2017 report called Delhi the fourth most congested capital globally.
She said the AAP government improved the public transportation system and road infrastructure. But in just two months, the BJP has taken Delhi backward by removing 2,000 buses without any replacements.
Kakkar accused the BJP of corruption from top to bottom. She said the BJP’s aim was to hand over tenders to capitalist friends, fueling bribery and commission rackets. She warned that the citizens of Delhi would bear the cost of this corruption.
