Amarinder asks partymen to give up red beacons

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today urged all his colleagues in the Punjab Congress to set an example for others by giving up red beacons on their vehicles, in line with their commitment to people of the state as part of the party's election manifesto.

"It is the collective responsibility of all party members to uphold the commitments made in the manifesto and fulfill their promises to the people," he said in a statement here.

"As the elected representatives of the people, it is our onerous responsibility and duty not only to fulfill our promises but also to do so in the positive spirit in which we made the same to the voters," he added.
 

Notably, the Congress returned to power in Punjab after a gap of 10 years. Assembly polls in the state were held in February this year.

The chief minister lauded all his ministerial colleagues and party MLAs who had already removed the red beacons and had won accolades for the same from the media as well as the public in general for arriving at the state Assembly yesterday in beaconless cars.

"The people voted for us as they trusted us to keep our promises and had faith in our ability to deliver on all counts," Amarinder said, adding "shedding VIP culture is a very small step in the direction of meeting their expectations".

Acknowledging that the shift required a major mindset change, he said he was confident that every one of his party colleagues had the strength to take this courageous step in the interest of the state and people "who see the VIP culture as a culture of alienation and isolation".

"If red beacons could raise a leader's status and ensure his/her popularity then no incumbent government, MP or MLA would ever lose an election," he said.

The chief minister said that a red beacon is, in fact a "regressive symbol which should have no place in a progressive society like ours, where accessibility is an important criterion in gauging the popularity of any leader".

Amarinder reiterated his government's commitment to implement all the poll promises and the subsequent cabinet decisions in letter and in spirit, as he called upon all MLAs, ex-MLAs and other elected leaders to support his government's efforts towards this positive transformation of Punjab.