TN, Gujarat CMs say no to 'Laal Batti'

Following the Centre's decision to ban the use of red beacons on vehicles attached to dignitaries, including central and state ministers, chief ministers of various states have removed the red beacons from their cars.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani have removed the flash light from their cars following the cabinet's decision.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted his decision of not using a red beacon on his car while travelling to Pune on Wednesday.

Uttar Pradesh minister Shrikant Sharma also got the red beacon removed from his car.

Reacting to Twitterati's appreciation of the government's decision to ban the use of red beacons on vehicles attached to dignitaries, including the central and state ministers and other VVIPs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that every Indian is special and a VIP.

Replying to the people's tweets, Prime Minister Modi said he is glad that a strong beginning has been made.

In what could be seen as a major step towards ending the VIP culture prevalent in India, the government today banned the use of red beacon on vehicles attached to dignitaries, including the central and state ministers and other VVIPs.

As per sources, the decision taken by the Union Cabinet will be implemented from May 1.

It is reported that five categories would be allowed to use the red beacon- President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and the Lok Sabha Speaker.

The ban applies to union ministers, chief ministers, state cabinet ministers, bureaucrats and judges of the High Court and Supreme Court.

It was reported last week that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has called a meeting to discuss whether the red beacon should be discarded or restricted to certain dignitaries.

Captain Amarinder Singh and Yogi Adityanath, the new chief ministers of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, have already taken steps to either end or restrict VIP culture.

In its first Cabinet meeting, chaired by Captain Amarinder, the newly formed Punjab Government decided to completely shun the VIP culture by removing the red, yellow and blue beacons from their official vehicles.