UP, Punjab Drive Ahead To Trample VIP Culture

The new governments in both the states have already asked their ministers and officials to shun their privilege in consonance with Central government’s order as reports of ‘voluntarily’ dumping red beacons pour in from across the country.

- Anil Singh

Come May 1, the decision of the Central government led by Prime Minister Modi to ban beacons on all official cars (except for emergency vehicles), comes into effect. In the aftermath of recently-held Assembly elections, the new governments in both Uttar Pradesh and Punjab had already asked their ministers and officials to shun this privilege in consonance with Central government’s order. Media reports indicate that already many IAS officers in different parts of the country have ‘voluntarily’given up their red beacons.

On April 19, the central government notified draft rules for abolishing red beacons and the new order, which is supposed to be effective from May 1, does not exempt even vehicles of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India. Just a day after the issuance of this notification, judges of the Delhi High had reportedly given up the red beacon on their official vehicles voluntarily. Some states like Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh had already prohibited the use of red beacons.

GENESIS OF LAL BATTI CULTURE

Lal Batti or VIP culture is said to be entirely an Indian phenomenon which is a fallout of the colonial mindset and also frivolous in nature. Some experts opine that in Western countries things are completely different, where people believe more in sticking to rules. However, India’s boorish VIP culture is in fact a hindrance to the country’s security and equality. Gun-brandishing security personnel, asking people to move their vehicles aside to make way for the beacon fitted white Ambassador car that the VIP travels in is usually said to be a common sight in India. Some observers lament at getting roads blocked for getting priority passage having become synonymous with VIP status symbol and unlimited powers in the country.