BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik was prompt to withdraw red beacon from his car after Centre's directive to VVIPs across the country to stop endorsing the lal batti culture . But for those, who sell the product, Narendra Modi 's move came as a shocker."We do not challenge the Centre's decision to ban use of lal batti atop vehicles of VVIPs. But our business is going to be hit adversely. Currently, I have over 30 pieces of red light beacon unsold in my showroom," said Sushil Agarwal, owner of Elegant Car Jewels, which sells car fancy fittings and appliances in Laxmisagar area here.Equally upset is Mohammad Sahil in Cuttack. "We were taken surprise when the government suddenly restricted the use of red beacon atop vehicles of VVIPs. Last month, I purchased a stock of 200 red beacons from Kolkata. I am in a fix now. I don't know how to dispose the products," Sahil said.Sources said each red beacon, made up of fibre, is sold between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500. "We usually received ordered from ministers, MLAs, police and government offices. Our products will go waste. Though we requested our suppliers to return the products, they did not agree," said Samir Gupta, another businessman.Number of chief minister Naveen Patnaik's political appointees using red beacon had gone up by around 15 in the past around a year in Odisha.The Naveen government appointed 11 MLAs as district planning committee chairman with minister of state ranks besides three advisers with cabinet rank and another with minister of state status, who are entitled such vehicles. Until a day ago, there were around 65 VIPs using red beacon atop their vehicles.In March 2014, in the run up to the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the state government had trimmed the list of VIPs who are entitled to use beacon atop vehicles: Governor, chief minister, chief justice Orissa high court, HC judges, speaker, cabinet ministers, leader of opposition, deputy speaker, ministers of state and deputy minister (deputy government chief whip).From May 1, no VIP, dignitary or official at Centre and states will be able to use any beacon - red or blue - on their vehicles. There will be no exceptions even for the PM, President and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and only emergency service vehicles like ambulances, fire brigade and police cars will use blue beacons.

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