The Congress on Tuesday said the red beacon culture should end in all the states to ensure equality in the nation.
Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI that the Punjab government has shown the way by taking the decision to end red beacon culture.
“This is the decision of Captain Amarinder Singh. If it happens in Uttar Pradesh, we would welcome that. Putting the red or blue light on the vehicles show they are different from others. Everyone is equal in India. The difference that is caused due to the red beacon culture should end,” he added.
Resonating similar sentiments, another Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra said, “The Punjab government has taken historic decisions. It seems that the Uttar Pradesh government headed by Adityanath would like to take some lessons from it. We do not mind if it’s positive. Punjab has set a good example. Let other states also follow.”
Days after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh banned the use of red beacon atop government vehicles, Uma Bharti on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the decision, saying delaying flights and stopping traffic for ministers is not a big issue.
"If any minister is going for his duty, then red beacon and stopping traffic is fine and even a flight can get delayed by five to seven minutes if the minister is going to attend a crucial meet as his absence in the meet might result in loss of crores of rupees," Bharti told the media.
However, she further said if a minister is going for any personal visit then this privilege should not be given to them.
In its first cabinet meeting, chaired by Singh, the newly formed Punjab government decided to completely shun the VIP culture by removing the red, yellow and blue beacons from their official vehicles.
"My cabinet has decided to rid the state of VIP culture. All beacon lights to be removed from vehicles of ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats," Singh had tweeted.
Soon after the decision, beacons were removed from the vehicles of the chief minister and other members of the council of ministers.
