Red Beacons removed from CM’s, ministers’ vehicles in Punjab

TIL Desk/National/Chandigarh/ Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has ordered the removal of beacons from all government vehicles, including his own. Mr Singh seems to be a man on a mission to revive the Congress, which has been performing poorly in elections in other states. After getting a majority in Punjab’s recently-held assembly elections, the Chief Minister seized the opportunity and swung into action. Putting a ban on the use of ‘lal battis’, or red beacons on government vehicles is one of the first major decisions taken by the new government in the state.

“Red beacons were removed from the vehicles of the Chief Minister and other members of the council of ministers on Saturday itself, without waiting for a notification, soon after the Congress government decided to put a ban on its use,”.

In a series of austere measures, the Amarinder Singh-led cabinet also decided to ban ministers from traveling overseas for two years. It also banned organising of banquets on state expense as part of the government’s move to shed VIP frills. This, the party says, is in line with their election manifesto. “In our manifesto, the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers were exempted. Despite this they decided to bring themselves within the ambit of the decision,” the Congress’ spokesperson said.