A day after the Union cabinet decided that VIP vehicles including those of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and the state and central ministers will have to shed their red beacons from May 1, the ministers in Kerala led the way on Thursday.
While two ministers have already got the red beacons removed from their cars, two others have reportedly given instructions for the same. Red beacons are installed on the vehicles of VIPs including judges of the Supreme Court.
In an attempt to put an end to the VIP culture in the country, the Union Cabinet decided that none of the VIP vehicles will have red beacon lights after May 1.
Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac was reportedly the first minister in the state to get the red beacon light on his car removed. Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas then followed suit.
Speaking to reporters, minister Mathew said, "There's no particular use of keeping the lights on for another few days anyway. Moreover, nobody must be given privilege over a certain level. This has been my stand even when I served as the transport minister."
Asianet News reported that while Minister Thomas Isaac and Mathew T Thomas had already got the red beacon lights on their cars removed before attending the cabinet session on Thursday, ministers E Chandrasekharan and AK Balan have given instructions for the same.