Atishi dares BJP to bring law to protect overage vehicles

Intensifying the controversy over the fuel ban on end-of-life (EoL) vehicles, which is currently on hold, in the national capital, AAP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi on Tuesday slammed the BJP Government accusing it of engaging in “court theatrics” to evade accountability while leaving the middle class, women and senior citizens to bear the brunt.

Addressing a press conference, Atishi demanded that the BJP Government bring a law within a week to protect overage vehicles from the blanket ban. She said the AAP would fully support such legislation — whether through an ordinance or a special Delhi Assembly Session.

Calling the ban arbitrary, Atishi said it disregards whether a car is well-maintained or heavily used, forcing lakhs of families to buy new vehicles.

“Every middle-class family dreams of buying a car after years of hard work and loans. Women buy cars because public transport is unsafe and elderly people need them for security. Now, they’re forced to buy new cars or risk losing their only mode of safe transport,” she said.

Atishi alleged that the BJP’s real motive is to benefit vehicle manufacturers, dealers and scrappers. “The BJP’s four-engine government — Delhi Government, MCD, Police and Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) — could have resolved this immediately. Instead, they write letters to their own agencies and pretend to approach courts only to have pleas rejected,” she said, comparing the move to “Karthik Calling Karthik”.

She reminded that the BJP had overturned the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench verdict on Delhi’s services in just eight days through an ordinance. “When it came to protecting their own power, they wasted no time. When it’s about protecting Delhi’s middle class, they claim their hands are tied by the courts,” she said.

Atishi warned that if the BJP does not bring a law within a week, it would prove its “nexus” with car makers and scrappers. She said, “AAP will support any law to safeguard overage vehicles. If the BJP fails to act, Delhiites will know who’s really profiting from their hardship.”

She concluded by asserting that the people of Delhi are watching closely and will hold the BJP accountable for pushing lakhs of families into sudden expenses and daily uncertainty.

Delhi