Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian BJP ministers will boycott cars with red beacon lights (lalbatti) starting from May 1.
Post Supreme Court’s order in December 2013, red beacons were being used by high profile officials which were holding constitutional posts such as the governor, chief minister, chief justice and Justices of the Rajasthan high court, cabinet members, assembly speaker, deputy speaker and leader of the opposition. Nonetheless, CM Raje had boycotted the use of red beacons in 2013 perse.
In recent meetings, the Prime Minister had reportedly been emphatic about ending ‘lal batti culture’ that has come to symbolize VIP arrogance at the cost of public convenience.
Following this decision, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje followed the footsteps of BJP supremos and reaffirmed that red beacons for the VIPs and ministers will be banned.
State home minister Gulabchand Kataria spelled out: “It is a good decision and the state too will implement it. I have already discussed it with the chief minister and the needful would be done soon.”
Raje took to twitter and said, “Curtailing the use of #RedBeacon is a welcome & forward looking step towards having more people-friendly Government.” This clearly shows her single mindedness towards this matter and how she clearly believes in this transformational shift of culture.
Impressively, the Chairperson of the Rajasthan Commission for Women Suman Sharma was elated to hear the decision. She exclaimed, “As soon I heard about the order, I directed my staff to remove it. I welcome the decision.”
This decision to boycott red beacons is a result of an ambulance video going viral on social platforms last year. The video demonstrated an Ambulance passage being blocked as a dignitary’s convoy was passing through the same route. The ambulance was ferrying a wounded child who suffered due to the VIP culture prevalent in India, as policemen had deployed barricades to obstruct traffic flow and ensure seamless travel for the visiting dignitary.
However, this is not enough. The government may stop using red beacons but police officers will thwart the normal passage of traffic, and hence this rule will make no difference to the situation. There has been no update so far on whether or not VIP cars will travel in the normal traffic course, just like Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy travelled when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had visited India.
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