No Lal Battis From May 1, Modi Cracks Down on VIP Culture

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided that the red beacon light will be removed from all vehicles, including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move, which starts from May 1 is seen as a crackdown on the VIP culture.

"In a historic decision, the Cabinet has decided that beacon lights will be removed from all vehicles, barring emergency services vehicles, from May 1," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

Gadkari is the first minister to remove the beacon from his official vehicle.

The minister said "this government is a government of common masses and has decided to abolish VIP culture of beacon lights and sirens".

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said amendments to Central Motor Vehicles Act 1989 will come into effect from May 1. He said blue light with flasher will be allowed only in defined emergency services such as police, ambulance and fire brigade.

“No dignitary, state or central, will use red light. There will be no exceptions,” he said.



The notification in this regard will be issued soon, he said, adding that the decision is a democratic one.

(With inputs from PTI)
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