Not easy for most to give up beacons

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 20

Not willing to let go their status symbols - red, amber and blue beacons - most politicians and bureaucrats in Himachal seem to cling on to the flashers which symbolise their exalted position for another few days.

Governor Acharya Devvrat took the lead in getting the red beacon atop his vehicle removed this morning in New Delhi. Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who was in Delhi, also got the red beacon removed.

Majority of those who removed the red and blue beacons from their vehicles belong to the BJP. The fact that the BJP-led Modi regime has taken the decision to ban the use of beacons and falshers on VIP vehicles, the BJP MLAs consider it their moral duty to take the lead and not wait till May 31.

Barring GS Bali, Transport Minister, who last week announced his decision not to use red beacon atop his vehicle, most other ministers in Himachal continues to use the beacons.

As far as the “babus” are concerned, none has decided to stop the use of beacons. Official vehicles of all senior bureaucrats, including Additional Chief Secretaries, were parked outside the Secretariat, with the beacon still being very much in place.

A majority of the high-ranking police officers has also chosen to retain the beacons even it is for another 10 days only.

The situation with regard to over 24 chairmen and vice-chairmen of various boards and corporations is no different. Having virtually begged for the blue flashers atop their vehicles before Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, these political appointees will feel the pinch the most after they are bereft of the beacons.

The common man praised the decision of the Modi regime to do away with the beacons. “All those who are removing their beacons after the Centre’s decision are the most hypocritical as they should have flashed their pictures if they had shed these beacons on their own before yesterday,” was the comment of an employee in the Secretariat. This was now being done as a compulsion.

However, vehicles of 90 per cent dignitaries who are entitled to the use of beacons in Himachal have still not removed the beacons. Maybe, they wish to enjoy the last 10 days of the exalted status.