Bihar ministers, MLAs favour doing away with beacon lights

Patna: Appreciating Punjab's initiative to do away with beacon lights on vehicles of ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats, ministers and legislators in Bihar cutting across party lines today favoured the same in the state.

"Its a good initiative (Punjab doing away with beacon lights on vehicles of ministers and legislators)...This would help bridge the gap between public and government," Congress state President and minister Ashok Choudhary told reporters.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi expressed agreement with the step not to use red beacon lights on vehicles.

He, however, said the temptation to flash beacon light is more visible among ruling party members.

Use of beacon light on vehicles by ministers, legislators and bureaucrats is considered as a status symbol and show that the user is a VIP.

Senior JD(U) leader and Deputy leader in state Legislative Assembly Shyam Rajak also spoke in favour of doing away with use of red beacon lights.

"Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already initiated a pioneering step not to use siren during movement of his caravan. Punjab government has now come up against use of beacon lights on vehicles of ministers, legislators and bureaucrats which is appreciative," Rajak said.

BJP MLAs Nitin Navin and Arun Sinha also echoed similar views.

On March 18 in its first cabinet meeting the Amarinder Singh government had decided to put a ban on the use of beacon lights on vehicles of ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats to end VIP culture in Punjab.