However, she said it should be left to states to take a decision on the issue in their jurisdiction. The Congress President stated this when senior party MP P C 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 also yesterday 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.