Odd-even scheme: BJP forcing bus drivers not to participate on Monday alleges Gopal Rai

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the jubilation surrounding the “success” of the odd and even scheme on its first day, Delhi’s transport minister was concerned on Friday evening.

Having spoken at length about the largely positive response from commuters, Gopal Rai expressed bitterness about the BJP’s attempts in the past week to create an atmosphere for failing the scheme by making negative statements about it and “indirectly forcing” private bus drivers to not participate from the all critical Monday next week.

“For the past week, the kind of language that was used by the BJP leaders and spokespersons, I think they should reconsider this. This is now a people’s movement and so the BJP and Centre should support it,” said Rai.



He alleged that “indirect” attempts were being made “even today” to pressurise school bus drivers into not participating in the scheme for the fortnight.

“I can tell you the exact numbers on Monday. But I would like to tell the BJP, through your medium, ‘Don’t try to scare, blackmail school bus drivers. You are only betraying your kids,” appealed Rai.

The Delhi government had initially planned to get 6,000 buses on board, but could manage only 3, 000 because of weak response. Named ‘DTC Paryavaran Bus Seva’, these school and private buses were to operate on special as well as designated DTC routes.

The AAP-run administration justified it saying, the remaining 3,000 were to cater to two wheelers who they had in mind while seeking to provision such a large number of buses. School bus contractors have pulled out from it, with some opposing the “imposition” of the scheme.

BJP Delhi chief Satish Upadhyay said, “It is too early to call the scheme a success, since this is a long weekend. Real test is on Monday.” “AAP is well known for making such baseless allegations. Delhi Govt should learn from the people of Delhi who followed the scheme which was imposed upon them by AAP government without proper consultation and necessary homework,” said Srikant Sharma, national secretary, BJP.