'Red beacon ban a stunt'

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the decision to get rid of red beacons was aimed at removing VIP culture from people’s mindset, Bihar Education Minister Ashok Choudhary termed the Centre’s move a publicity stunt.

“Merely removing red beacons from vehicles won’t change VIP culture,” Choudhary said on Monday.

“When the president or the prime minister or any other VVIP moves, the cavalcade has to be allowed to pass through. This holds up traffic for at least half an hour, causing much inconvenience to the common man. So, by merely removing the red beacon, you can’t claim to eradicate VIP culture. This is simply a publicity stunt,” said Choudhary, who is also the president of Bihar Congress.

The minister added that it was Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh who actually initiated the move to remove red beacons atop vehicles, which was followed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
DH News Service