New Delhi: Justifying the move to ban the use of red beacon the Union Cabinet has decided today to ban the use of red beacons atop vehicles of VIPs, government officials, the central and state ministers including the Prime Minister and the President, the government said that VIP culture is not good for the Indian democracy.
This decision comes into effect from May 1. The Cabinet has decided that beacon lights will be removed from all vehicles, barring emergency services vehicles. Only the blue flasher beacons will be allowed on vehicles belonging to the fire service, police, army and ambulances, to ensure passage through traffic.
The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi was the first to withdraw the use of red beacons by ministers. The move comes a month after recently elected Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab decided against the use of the red beacon on their official cars.
“In a historic decision, the Cabinet has decided that beacon lights will be removed from all vehicles, barring emergency services vehicles, from May 1,” Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said. Gadkari showed the way by becoming the first minister to take the beacon off his official vehicle after the Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told, “Now no one in the country would be able to have red beacons atop official vehicles. There will be no exceptions”.
The use of red beacons has been an issue of public discussion as well as a controversy since long. The government is of the considered opinion that beacons on vehicles are perceived symbols of VIP culture and have no place in a democratic country.
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