NEW DELHI: Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari’s proposal to limit the use of red beacons to only five dignitaries at the Centre and four in the states holding Constitutional posts has received a shot in the arm with finance minister Arun Jaitley backing it .

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In his letters to three ministers, Gadkari had favoured limiting the privilege to the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Chief Justice of India at the Centre. Similarly, governor, chief minister, assembly speaker and chief justice of the high court in states would be allowed to mount read beacons on their vehicles. He had also attached all the communication among different ministries, legal opinion and suggestions the ministry had received on the issue.

Sources said Jaitley is the first minister to respond. Gadkari had sought response of two other cabinet colleagues — home minister Rajnath Singh and foreign affairs minister Sushma Swaraj – following an advice from the Prime Minister’s Office. TOI has learnt that PM Narendra Modi had asked for such a consultation among senior ministers.

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It is learnt that since the FM’s views have come, Gadkari may now move the official proposal. “Though there is no hurry to take a decision, there are views to limit the use of red beacon which has become more of a status symbol. The transport ministry’s proposal is in sync with the observations made by the SC,” a source said.

Coming down heavily on the rampant use of red beacons by politicians and bureaucrats in September 2013, the SC had observed, “The widespread use of red lights on government vehicles is reflective of the mentality of those who served British government and treated the natives as slaves.”

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