This Article is From Aug 12, 2011

Members of Parliament want laal battis too

New Delhi: The Lokpal Bill and the Food Security Bill aren't the only things Members are talking about in the Parliament. A new campaign has begun on the floor of the house. The Members of Parliament (MPs) are demanding that use of red beacons on their cars should be allowed. They say it's very embarrassing for them to go back to their constituency without a red light.

The top order of priority is the missing light on top of their cars.

"I am an MP from UP, there I am allowed to use the beacon but the moment we enter Delhi we are not permitted to use it, small officers and bureaucrats are allowed to use the beacon, then why should an MP be stopped?" asked Yashvir Singh, a Lok Sabha MP from Nagina.

On Thursday 100 MPs moved a petition to the Lok Sabha speaker. They had just one demand, to be allow the beacon on their cars and restore their prestige.

Rakesh Sachan an MP says "this is not only to gain respect but our constituencies are so huge, we get stuck in jams."

A Samajwadi party MP says " The order of ranks that are given are wrong, this way MPs like us come way below the PM and others higher."

While some MPs feel only the light will help their image, there are others who have the privilege but don't use it. Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh says" Whats the use? Only the PM should use it."

The speaker who heard the woes of the MPs may not agree with their "light" issues.
 
.