FILE photo: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
The Aam Aadmi Party's 'end VIP culture' mantra clearly doesn't seem to have found takers in Jammu and Kashmir after legislators slammed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over being excluded from a list of VIPs eligible for red beacons or
lal battis on their cars in the state.
The state government had, after a cabinet meeting yesterday, notified the list that included the Chief Minister, his deputy, cabinet ministers, Chief Secretary, police chief and the Speaker of the Assembly among others.
"It's strictly in accordance to the Supreme Court order... The Supreme Court had asked states to notify the list of people who can use red beacon... The Centre has already notified the list and we have notified it on those lines," Mr Abdullah told NDTV, defending his decision that triggered a major uproar in the assembly, with legislators, including from his ruling National Conference, staging a walkout today.
The Supreme Court had ruled in December last year that only Constitutional authorities were entitled to red beacons on their cars and had asked all states to provide an eligibility list.
But MLAs alleged that the list was a violation of precedent, questioning the exclusion of elected representatives from that list.
"As per the order, non-elected people are entitled to use
lal batti and those elected have been barred... We are against this and we want an end to this culture," said Naeem Akhtar, Spokesperson, Peoples Democratic Party.
The Chief Minister's critics were also quick to recall his tweet following the Supreme Court order. "I must admit I'll be happy to see this red beacon culture go. I never use one on my private vehicles & don't see the need for one anyway," the 43-year-old had said.
Mr Abdullah took to Twitter again today to dismiss allegations of doublespeak: "Personally, I don't use a red beacon on my vehicles and I don't plan to start now either. Please guys go chase bigger stories."