Ministers scurry to take red beacons off vehicles

Soon after the Union Cabinet decision of not using red beacons on official vehicles was announced, there was a competition of sorts in the State Cabinet to remove the beacons attached to the ministers' vehicles.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted his decision of not using a red beacon on his car while he was travelling to Pune on Wednesday. But before this, Minister for Transport Diwakar Raote, a veteran Shiv Sena leader, ordered his staff to take his official vehicle to a garage and get the beacon detached.

Reminding that terrorists used a vehicle with red beacon to attack the Parliament, Raote said, "Had today's decision been taken a few years back, the Parliament attack would not have taken place."

Minister for Education Vinod Tavade said that he had refused to avail security and police protection even when he was the leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council. He pointed out that the BJP government, after coming to power in 2014, had decided to do away with the guard of honour given to visiting politicians on a daily basis at Daak Bungalows and government rest houses.

According to Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot, the decision brings the common man on the street at par with a minister.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Housing Ravindra Waikar said that the ministers would have to abide by the Centre's decision.