Sonia Gandhi opposes red beacons atop MPs' cars

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is against MPs' demand to sport red beacons atop their cars in Delhi.u00a0

In a meeting of Congress Parliamentary Party Executive, Sonia made it clear that more red beacons in Delhi would create problems.

However, she said it should be left to states to take a decision on the issue in their jurisdiction.

Sonia Gandhi against red lights, but only atop MPs' cars.

The Congress President stated this when senior party MP PC Chacko raised the issue during the meeting seeking her view on the matter, sources said.

Her remarks came close on the heels of a debate in the Lok Sabha last week which saw MPs from across the political spectrum making a strong demand for being given the right to sport red beacons atop their vehicle and said they would approach the Prime Minister in this regard.

They had said that the Privileges Committee of the Lok Sabha had made recommendation to the effect and sought to know why the government was delaying the measure.

Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi had on Monday come out against red beacon lights on the cars of lawmakers saying in the current climate of cynicism, it could become the "butt of ridicule and derision"

"The current climate of cynicism and distrust does not behove people's representatives flaunting such privileges. It is likely to be highly misunderstood and become the butt of ridicule and derision, rather than respect or awe", Singhvi said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.u00a0