Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered the transfer of the transport department official responsible for the error on the red beacon issue. At the same time, he also ruled out any slowdown on the review and withdrawal of security to political leaders in the State.
Capt Amarinder made it clear that there would be no change in his government’s red beacon policy, as mandated in the Congress poll manifesto and ratified through a cabinet decision.
“Government is fully committed to end the VVIP culture in the State and there would be no further relaxation in the exemptions, barring those laid down by the Cabinet,” he said while making it clear that he and his cabinet colleagues would not use the red beacons, which they had decided to voluntarily give up even though the Congress manifesto had exempted them.
He categorically stated that he had directed the Chief Secretary to immediately shift out the officers or officials responsible for Tuesday’s goof-up.
Removal of red beacons is part of his Government’s commitment to eradicate the VIP culture in the State, he added.
He also ruled out any slowdown in the withdrawal or pruning of security to political leaders and officers, saying that the security was given based on threat perceptions.
The Chief Minister said he had directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to take necessary steps for implementing the security review decision in the interest of good policing and for the welfare of the police.
He said with the withdrawal of police personnel and doing away with the prevalent system of deploying police personnel on VVIP routes, the surplus policemen relieved from these superfluous duties would be available for posting in their respective districts to strengthen public policing.