Lal batti is history: Ministers remove red beacon from their cars

The democratic decision was hailed by ministers from opposition parties as well including the Congress and the AAP

Bengaluru, April 20: Seeking to end VIP culture, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided that red beacon light will be removed from all vehicles, including that of the prime minister, from May 1.

Replying to a tweet hailing the government decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Every Indian is special. Every Indian is a VIP. It should have gone long ago. Glad that today a strong beginning has been made. These symbols are out of touch with the spirit of new India."

The democratic decision was hailed by ministers from opposition parties as well including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.

As soon as the prohibition order to remove red beacons was announced, many ministers were clicked removing lal battis off their vehicles. Let's take a look:

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari said, "This government is a government of common masses and has decided to abolish VIP culture of beacon lights and sirens", while adding that "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. They have no relevance whatsoever." Photo credit: Twitter

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

"We welcome the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet about the removal of red beacon lights from vehicles. This is a very good move to end the VIP culture from our system," Rupani told reporters in Rajkot.

"We will study the Central government's notification in this regard and will implement the same in Gujarat soon," he said.Photo credit: Twitter

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami

Palaniswami personally removed the red beacon light from his car and said the action was taken following the union cabinet's decision in this regard yesterday in Delhi. "From today the red beacon in my car is being removed," he said, adding, his cabinet colleagues will follow suit.Photo credit: Twitter

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

"The Chief Minister returned to his residence from the state secretariat after removing the red beacon from his official vehicle", a communication received from the Odisha Chief Minister's Office said. Photo credit: Twitter

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

"Maharashtra welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's. step towards ending VIP culture by stopping the use of red beacons atop VIP vehicles," Fadnavis said in a tweet.

"And to celebrate such epic step for strengthening our democracy, I have stopped using the RedBeacon atop my car," he said in another tweet. [Photo credit: Twitter

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar

Parrikar said, "I believe that the VIP culture has to be reduced. Except for the PM and the President, there is no requirement of red beacon mounted cars." Photo credit: Twitter

Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel

Driver of Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel removing the red beacon from the minister's car after cabinet decision about 'no red beacons', in New Delhi. Photo credit: Twitter

Finance Minister Thomas Issac, Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas, Culture Minister A.K. Balan and Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekheran also removed the beacons fitted on their official vehicles.

The move was emulated this year by the Amarinder Singh-led government in Punjab and the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh.

Beacons, however, will be allowed on vehicles concerning emergency and relief services, ambulance and fire service.

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