While many Chief Ministers, union and state ministers have already removed the red beacon from their vehicles after the union cabinet approved the proposal in this regard, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is among those who are waiting for the order to come into force on May 1.
Responding to a question on his vehicle still carrying the red beacon, the Karnataka CM gave a terse reply, "Why should I remove red beacon now? It is to be removed from May 1. I will remove it when the order comes into effect."
Even Karnataka Law Minister TB Jayachandra advised the media not to make a hue and cry over the issue.
"It is true that cabinet has taken a decision and in pursuance of the decision, an act is to be amended or execution order is to be done. It is a matter left to the Central Government. Except that cabinet decision has been taken, nothing has been heard from the Central Government,” TB Jayachandra said.
“Unless the order is issued, they should not make an issue of the whole thing. May 1 is the deadline for removing the red beacon. The Press is making a hue and cry. Only after the issue of order this should be insisted, not now," he added.
The union cabinet recently approved the proposal to restrict the use of red beacons by ministers and VVIPs.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis , Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani have already removed the flash light from their vehicles after the cabinet's decision.
