Team Herald
PANJIM: Hours after Central cabinet banned red beacons on VIP vehicles, State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and his cabinet colleagues removed red beacons from their official cars.
Apparently, Tourism Minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar was the first to remove the red beacon from his official car, followed by chief minister.
Assembly Speaker Dr Pramod Sawant and deputy speaker Michael Lobo were not available for comments.
“We will follow the directive of the Centre. I have always believed that VIP culture should be reduced. It is a wrong concept. However, the President, the Prime Minister, who are the focal points in the country, are an exemption,” Parrikar told media persons.
“I am anyway not interested in red beacons. I have otherwise also reduced my security from 140-odd personnel to 25. I don’t want these many too, but since I have Z-plus security, they are there,” the chief minister added.
Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to ban the use of red beacons atop vehicles of dignitaries and government officials, including the Prime Minister and the President. The decision will come into effect from May 1.
Beacons (the red flasher) will be allowed only on vehicles belonging to the fire service, police, army and ambulances, to ensure passage through traffic.
The cabinet ministers Francis D’Souza, Ramakrishna Dhavalikar, Vijay Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte, Jayesh Salgaoncar, Vinod Palyekar, Manohar Azgaonkar, Pandurang Madkaikar, Govind Gaude, Mauvin Godinho and Vishwajit Rane removed the red beacons from their vehicles.
If one recalls, Salgaoncar, had on the very first day refused to take red beacon on his official car but was convinced by Parrikar that it is a part of protocol.
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar, who is out station, has not taken decision.
In 2013, the Supreme Court dubbed the use of beacons by ministers and government officials “ridiculous and synonymous with power” and said that they be removed immediately.
