A day after it issued a statement stressing that it was “competent enough” to provide commuting facilities to MPs, the Aam Aadmi Party government has released a letter from the Lok Sabha addressed to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), requesting its assistance.
On Wednesday, a senior representative of the Lok Sabha Secretariat had claimed that no request had been made to the AAP government to provide buses for Parliamentarians from the DTC’s fleet, and that the short-lived MP Special bus service had been offered by the AAP government of its own volition.
According to a written communication by Lovekesh Kumar Sharma, director with Lok Sabha Secretariat, to the DTC, the LS Secretariat had on April 25 requested six AC-buses for ferrying MPs to Parliament from their residence.
“The vehicles of Members of Parliament and also the vehicles provided by DTC to Lok Sabha Secretariat for ferrying members of Parliament are not exempted during this period (odd-even),” the communication read.
“In this regard, it may also be stated that since the Budget Session of Parliament is going on, the members of Parliament may face difficulties in attending the Budget Session. Therefore, the DTC is requested to provide 6 Nos. AC bus for ferrying the members of Parliament from their residence in New Delhi to Parliament House and vice-versa on April 25, 2016,” the letter stated.
A senior Delhi government official claimed that the AAP government did not demand money in lieu of running the MP Special bus service to ferry Parliamentarians.
“The charges per kilometre per vehicle (DTC bus), including taxes, may be communicated to the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The bills may be sent to the Lok Sabha Secretariat for payment after the completion of the duty,” the letter, written by Mr. Sharma on April 25, read.
On Wednesday, Secretary in Lok Sabha Secretariat D. Bhalla had said that they had not made any request to the AAP government to provide any such help (MP Special bus service). “It was their (Delhi government) offer. This is ridiculous to say that they have been doing this for the MPs. We do not need any mercy...” Mr. Bhalla had said.
