TN CM removes red beacon from car

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today removed the red beacon light from his car and said late Jayalalithaa had set “an example” by avoiding its use while heading the state.

Palaniswami personally removed the beacon light from his car at the state Secretariat here, a day after the Union cabinet decided to do away with the VIP culture.

“I have removed the red beacon light from my car,” he said, adding Ministers and officials will also remove the lights from their vehicles.

He recalled Jayalalithaa had not used the red beacon light as Chief Minister.

“Amma (Jayalalithaa) set an example to others by not using the red beacon light in her vehicles when she was Chief Minister,” he said.

The Union cabinet had yesterday decided to prohibit all vehicles, except emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire brigade, from using the beacon lights from May 1.

The decision covered the vehicles of President, Prime Minister, state Chief Ministers and others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said these “symbols are out of touch with the spirit of new India.”

The government said the vehicles with beacon lights, which are seen as a symbol of VIP culture, “have no place in a democratic country.”

“After May 1, no one will be able to put red light atop his/her vehicle. Blue light will be used only for emergency vehicles in the country…Neither the states nor the Centre will have power to give any special permission (for use of beacon lights),” Finance Minister Arun Jaitely had said.