A day after Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Home portfolio, grew agitated on the issue of “zero- traffic” privilege, the State government came out with a circular providing not only zero traffic but all other privileges given to the Chief Minister during travel to the Deputy Chief Minister as well.
The circular states that all privileges given to the Chief Minister are extended to the Deputy Chief Minister in the State during visits to various places in the city as well to different parts of the State. The privilege allows for the Chief Minister’s and the Home Minister’s vehicles and convoys to pass through roads where movement of other vehicles is temporarily stopped.
In the past too
All privileges provided to the Chief Minister had been extended to Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2004 during the Congress–Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government and R. Ashok and K.S. Eshwarappa during the 2008–13 BJP regime, the circular issued on Thursday stated.
Minister for Industries K.J. George, who was Home Minister in the Siddaramaiah government, had also availed of the facility. However, Ramalinga Reddy, who was Home Minister in the Siddaramaiah government, had turned down the zero-traffic privilege citing that such facility would cause inconvenience to commuters in Bengaluru. When asked about traffic jams because of extending the zero-traffic privilege, an agitated Dr. Parameshwara on Wednesday said it was a privilege accorded to the Deputy Chief Minister. “If others didn’t want it, that is fine. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have it. This is my decision,” he said when he was told that his predecessors in the Home ministry, including Mr. Reddy, had not been extended this privilege.
Regrets inconvenience
Dr. Parameshwara took to Twitter late on Wednesday to clarify his statement. “I regret the inconvenience caused to common citizens due to zero traffic. However, managing time is crucial because of many government programmes and meetings. Governor, Chief Minister and Home Minister have the privilege of zero traffic. I have instructed the police to ensure the least traffic,” he tweeted.