Chhattisgarh CM removes red light on his vehicle

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday removed the red light on his official vehicle before being driven to work.

Singh came to office without the red light on his car as he felt it was not an essential element for a chief minister, officials said.

Following this move, all secretaries and other officials too stand to lose the red lights on their vehicles, they said.

According to a decision made today, only the director general of police, chief secretary, home secretary and field officials dealing with law and order will be eligible to have the beacon atop their vehicles, officials said.

Ministers are free to decide whether to retain the red lights, they said.

Though no reason was given for the chief minister's sudden decision, sources in the ruling BJP said some dissidents had complained to the party's central leadership about some officials and leaders moving around in cars with red lights when they were not eligible to do so.

The state government had failed to check the misuse of red and orange lights, the sources said.