Mangaluru: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader is someone who has always watched his word. After stoking a controversy during Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s visit to Mangaluru recently, UTK has now has left eyebrows raised for the second time by making another bizarre statement with regard to the beacon light which still remains mounted on his official car.

Despite orders that the beacon lights must be done away with from May 1, so as to put an end to the VIP culture’, the Minister did not abide by the same.

However, responding to a query on the same, UTK said that the beacon light is on his car and not on his head!

“How will the removal of beacon light help the poor,” questioned Khader going on to say that the vehicle has been given to him by the state government and not the union government. He elaborated saying that he would get down the beacon only if the state government asks him to do so.

“Our duty is to use the car to move around. There is no provision to alter the car. If necessary, the government will do that. I am committed to decision of the CM,” he argued, ignoring the fact that the centre had only carried forward a Supreme Court ruling dated December 2013 that had restricted use of red beacon lights and had also asked the Centre to amend the Motor Vehicles Act accordingly.