MANGALURU: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader is in no mood to remove the red beacon from his official car. While the Centre’s ban on red beacons in VIP vehicles came into force on Monday, the minister has decided to defy the ban.
On Monday, when his attention was drawn to the red beacon on his car, the minister shot back: “I am not moving around with the red beacon light placed on my head. It is installed on my car.’’
Khader also questioned how such a move would help poor people and remove their hunger. “Any decision by the government should favour poor people,” he said, adding, “It is the state government which has given me this car and I do not have any right to alter it.
If instructions to remove the red beacon comes from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, I will then obey and remove the beacon lights.”
Just 24 hours before the ban on red beacons came into effect, district-in-charge and forest minister B Ramanath Rai had the red beacon on his car removed on Sunday. A few days ago, Rai had refused to comply with ban orders unless he received the order copy.
Meanwhile, police vehicles in Bengaluru were seen sporting the amber colour, though Centre has said that emergency services, including police, can use only blue beacon lights. Some departments said there was no clarity as the order from the Centre was yet to reach them.
In the first week of April, the Union Cabinet had issued a notification to end the culture of flashing red beacons with effect from May 1. Calling it a sign of influence and privilege for those in power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated on Sunday that in his government’s concept of ‘New India’ more importance should be given to the ‘EPI’ (Every Person is Important) and not VIP.