Listing it among Diwali festivities, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi has announced that no fine will be levied for traffic rule violations in the state from October 21 to 27. He said it's "one more pro-people decision" by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
It comes ahead of elections due by the end of the year, in which the BJP hopes to retain its decades of hold on the state.
"Don't use the decision to break the law," the minister said in a video he tweeted with the announcement, in Gujarati. "If someone breaks the rules, the Gujarat police will persuade them not to, by giving flowers."
"Diwali is the festival of lights... and comes with the colours of rangoli, lots of sweets, and the excitement of lamps and crackers," he tweeted.
"Pro-people decision" by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is how the minister described it.
"On this occasion, this is one more pro-people decision of Bhupendra Patel ji," Mr Sanghavi added.
In reaction, while many people on Twitter welcomed the move — saying it'd encourage people to follow rules voluntarily — there were others who said it'd lead to worsening of the traffic mess in cities.
"Stand and watch the traffic at a traffic signal someday," one suggested to the minister. "This decision is unfair. No one will fear the law. As a result, accident rate will increase," posted another.
While some demanded an immediate rollback on the decision, some others were quite sarcastic, saying that citizens now "have liberty to overspeed and break signals and just get away with anything".
Francis j @francispolit tweeted: "Instead do something for the poor and see to that they don't go to sleep with an empty stomach... Jus to garner votes don't stick to these type of fancy relaxation of rules thereby risking others life thru accidents.. Atleast henceforth Light their lives thru sensible ideas."
@vkbsrinivas reacted on Twitter, saying: "This is bad example to others. During festivals, it must be much more careful scenario ...Wish the leaders will roll back this decision."
VK @vk_delhi criticised the move as an "election stunt", saying: "Do crime and get rewarded! Now official!"
Satyam Shroff @satyamshroff tweeted: "Why compromise on the traffic rules during festivities. They are framed and in place for our own safety. So now citizens have liberty to overspeed and break signals and just get away with anything. Please refer to the stats on deaths due to accident. What is the logic."
Shaukeen Ahmad @shauken1991 went a step ahead and advised people not to fall for the words of the minister and instead follow traffic rules: "Life is yours, follow the traffic rules. Put on a helmet. If something happens to someone, the darkness will be in your house, they will not care."
One respondent to the minister's tweet even cited the example of Cyrus Mistry, the former Tata Sons Chairman who was killed in a road accident last month. "Traffic rules are for safety of everyone and it needs to be followed every time you are on the road. Seems you do not want to learn from Cyrus Mistry's accident," the person wrote.
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