Karnataka Minister for Food and Civil Supplies UT Khader is in no mood to remove the red beacon from his official car.

While the Centre’s ban on red beacons in VIP vehicles came into force on Monday, the Minister has decided to defy the ban. The Karnataka Minister further said, he would remove the beacon, if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructs him to do so.

U T Khader said, “If the Chief Minister asks me to remove the red beacon light, I will obey his instruction and remove it.” Khader said it was the state government that had given him the car with a red beacon light, not central government, and he had no right to remove it. “I do not have power to alter my car. It is left to the cabinet to decide,” he told reporters here, in Mangaluru yesterday.

Khader also said he has no objection on the ban of red beacon light on VIP vehicles, but the Government should develop  schemes, that will fill people’s stomach and provide education.

“Let the central government bring into force such a notification, I am not saying no, but most importantly it should introduce schemes wherein it is possible to fill the stomachs of people and provide education,” the Congress minister said. He further added that the objective of the Government should bring people to the level of VIP. He also said, “I am not moving around with the red beacon light placed on my head. It is installed on my car.” Last month, the Union Cabinet had decided to end the red beacons flashing with effect from May 1, to end the VIP culture.

SUPRAJA