The only person as disappointed as the netas who have been "stripped-off their VIP status" after the Union Cabinet scrapped the use of red beacons is Jugraj Nahata. No, he does not use one atop his vehicle. He sells them to politicians who then flaunt them as a status symbol in their constituencies.The owner of Car Plus Centre on Lenin Sarani who sells — besides car seat covers, music system, and fancy fittings -— beacons, is worried about the huge stock in his warehouse. He who would sell close to 15 red beacons a week till Tuesday but has not sold a single one since Wednesday when the Union Cabinet decided to do away with red beacon lights on all vehicles, including those of the Prime Minister, but excluding emergency services, from May 1.The short span of time between the announcement and the date from which it comes into effect has left businessmen like Nahata with very little time to clear their stocks."I am stuck with huge stock of beacon lights. Since the bar on beacon lights comes into effect from May 1, I have got almost no time to clear my stock. Since these beacons are very expensive, I will incur big loses," said Nahata.Nahata is not alone. The decision to scrap red beacons has taken hundreds of businessmen on Lenin Sarani, Mullickbazar, Dunlop and Howrah Maidan off-guard."The government could have given us sometime to clear our stocks. The sales have just become nil since the announcement," said Abir Sarkar, who sells car fittings and accessories in Dunlop.Though ambulances, fire tenders and hearses will continue to use the beacons besides a few others holding constitutional and government posts but the traders are not excited."Politicians buy the best ones. They do not worry about the cost," said Iqbal Ahmed on Mullickbazar.Chief minister Mamata Banerjee never used a beacon after becoming the chief minister. Infact when her convoy moves, even the police cars do not use the sirens lest they disturb anybody. But the same cannot be said about her colleagues.A shop-owner who did not want to be named in the hope of retaining his customer if the government rolls back its decision said that a minister purchased three beacons for his four cars soon after he was sworn in as a relative lightweight minister after the 2016 assembly elections."He purchased the best ones. His personal security officer said that dada needs the beacon lights to impress the people of his assembly segment. He purchased three beacons," said the shop owner.In 2013, the Supreme Court had said the use of beacons by ministers and government officials was a "menace to society" and asked the Centre to restrict their use and that of sirens to persons holding constitutional posts.Mohammed Aqil who fits the beacons atop the SUVs of the netas wondered how scarping red beacons will abolish "VIP culture" in the country. "It is mere tokenism. If the central and the state governments are serious about putting an end to the VIP culture they should stop the vehicles driving through toll plazas without paying the toll. The space earmarked for parking for handicapped at Howrah and Sealdah stations are almost always occupied by VIP vehicles," said the man in his mid-30s.If you thought that in the top echelons of the world of beacons, there is no space for discrimination, think again. Those fitted with halogen lights are the most expensive and preferred by the politicians. Those fitted with flashers hardly have any takers besides hearses and ambulances.

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