Yogi Adityanath steps in to end VIP culture in UP, bans use of red, blue lights; ministers remove beacons from cars

Lucknow: Just two days after the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to put an end to the VIP culture, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued midnight orders banning the use of red and blue beacon lights on all vehicles across the state.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office said that the use of blue and red beacon lights by ministers and officials was being ended from Friday. 

However, they would be allowed on the escort vehicles.

Army vehicles, ambulances, fire brigades and police vehicles will be exempt from this decision.

The governor and the Chief Justice of High Court will continue to use red beacons.

CM Adityanath has also decided to curtail the security cover of politicians and others. 

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this decision and said it would go a long way in ending VIP culture in the country and bring relief to the people.

Soon after the cabinet decision on Wednesday, ministers in the Yogi government Siddhartha Nath Singh and Rita Bahuguna Joshi had removed beacons from their official vehicles.

(With IANS inputs)