India bans red beacons on vehicles of ministers, top officials

The Indian government's ban on red beacons atop vehicles of ministers and top officials came into effect on Monday.

However, red or blue beacons will be allowed on vehicles dealing with emergency in relief services, ambulance and fire services.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had ordered the ban last month, said Sunday in his monthly radio address to the nation that the exit of the red beacon "is part of a system" and that efforts should be made to cleanse it out of the minds.

"If people collectively strive to do it with eternal vigilance, it surely can be flushed out. The concept of New India precisely is that in place of Very Important Person (VIP), more priority should be accorded to EPI that is Every Person is Important," Modi said in monthly radio program Mann ki Baat.

Though only five in India will be allowed to use red beacon atop vehicles - the president, prime minister, vice president, chief justice and the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) speaker - Modi has himself given up the "status symbol."

Last month, Modi went to the Delhi airport to receive Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina "in normal traffic," which means no traffic restrictions were in place throughout the route.

Recently, governments of two states, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in the north, apparently enforced almost a similar ban on use of red beacons atop vehicles of ministers and other top officials.

The Punjab government, run by the country's main opposition Congress Party, announced that using red beacon in the state will be criminal offense. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's government in Uttar Pradesh warned that no minister in the state will be allowed to use the red beacons atop vehicles.

India's Supreme Court had described putting up of beacon lights and blowing of sirens as a "status symbol," adding that besides constitutional functionaries, it was the "ambulances, fire services, police and army who are in need for red lights. Rest can be excluded." Endit