Pink Card Row Sparks Delhi Showdown

AAP slams BJP move to mandate cards for free DTC bus travel for women

March 3, 2026: A political face-off has erupted in the national capital after the Bharatiya Janata Party government decided to make Pink Cards mandatory for women availing free travel in Delhi Transport Corporation buses. The Aam Aadmi Party has termed the move unnecessary and discriminatory. AAP’s Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned why a new documentation system was being introduced when women were already travelling free through Pink Tickets without complications, alleging the change would create avoidable hurdles.

Bharadwaj raised concerns over possible Aadhaar-linked eligibility requirements, claiming lakhs of women from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Purvanchal residing in Delhi may face exclusion if a Delhi-linked Aadhaar card becomes mandatory. He argued that the government has not clarified the criteria or process for obtaining the Pink Card and alleged that the decision reflects a discriminatory approach toward migrant women living in the city.

The AAP leader also flagged potential corruption and administrative burdens, questioning the need to involve private contractors when the earlier ticket system had no financial leakages. He alleged that requiring women to secure documentation from government offices could lead to middlemen exploitation and additional expenses. Calling the move a “conspiracy to snatch rights,” Bharadwaj demanded the rollback of the Pink Card mandate, as the issue intensifies the political battle between AAP and the BJP in Delhi.