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Karnataka Minister says govt policies should focus on hunger instead of red beacon

  • UT Khader's car was seen with the red beacon even after the official deadline ended.
  • The minister said removing the red beacon will not solve hunger or help poor people. 
karnataka minister doesnt remove red beacon waits for siddaramaiah order

 

Karnataka’s minister for Food and Civil Supplies, UT Khader, doesn’t want to remove the red beacon from his car. Khader said he will act only on the orders of CM Siddharamaiah and so far, he hasn’t received a directive to remove the lal batti.

On Monday, the minister from Mangalore drew the ire of several people when his car still had the red beacon. Many noticed this symbol of status when he stepped out of his official vehicle to attend a wedding in Mangalore.

When asked about PM Modi’s order to remove the red beacon, Khader answered, “I am not moving around with the red beacon light placed on my head. It is installed on my car,” reported The New Indian Express.

The minister added that removing or keeping the red beacon on a car would not solve hunger or uplift poor people. Khader said policies must be made keeping in mind those who are economically backward.

“It is the state government which has given me this car and I do not have any right to alter it. If instruction to remove the red beacon comes from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, I will then obey and remove the beacon lights,” Khader added.

However, the state’s Chief Minister removed the red beacon from his own car a few days before the Centre’s deadline, May 1. Following this, several ministers in Karanataka removed it from their cars too. Siddaramaiah’s decision to remove the beacon has set an example for ministers and VIPs in Bengaluru, who have towed the Centre’s line.

The red beacon is often used as a symbol of status by VIPs and ministers in India. In the past, vehicles with the red beacon have held up traffic, contributed to congestion on roads and have led to long delays. In an effort to end this, PM Modi said that no vehicle will bear the red beacon by May 1. 

 

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