This picture of PM Modi’s convoy is a hammerblow to VVIP culture. Here's why

re is something heartening in picture above -- an indicator of how VVIP racism, a culture that is deeply entrenched in country, may be showing signs of waning and it is being led by ne or than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi, who reached Guwahati on Saturday to inaugurate Global Investors' Summit, 'vant Assam', earlier in day ensured his convoy didn’t disrupt traffic as it passed through national capital.

Being stuck in traffic for VVIP envoys to pass through, over years, has become a daily habit in India, but with PM Modi's consistent insistence on least disruption and disturbance to common man, re seems to be hope of ending ‘lal batti’ culture as it hopefully filters down from very highest levels.

As seen in picture, even as PM’s convoy passed through New Delhi, traffic on opposite lane remained unaffected.

In April 2017, Union Cabinet issued a tification to end culture of flashing red beacons, more popularly kwn as ‘laal batti’, with effect from May 1 that year.

red beacon, or ‘laal batti’, signifies influence and privilege for those in power. But ban on red beacon does t affect only m. It’s a bid to establish concept of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘New India’ that stresses on ‘EPI’ – Every Person is Important’.

Prime Minister h said in his rio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' that decision to get rid of red beacons was aimed at removing VIP culture from mindset of certain people. He h underlined that all 125 crore people of country have equal value and importance. PM Modi h said getting rid of Red beacon was an ministrative decision but efforts have to be me to remove VIP culture from mindset also.

Ar facet of picture is that it entails a hammer-blow to biggest enabler of VIP culture - procedure. While security is present on divider, it's t intruding on eir of lanes -- a far cry from earlier years when traffic on both sides would be me to come to a standstill, often for extended periods of time.

PM Modi first travelled like a common man with traffic blockes on October 20, 2014 when he attended All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) convocation ceremony. ros were blocked and commuters were allowed to travel on same ro as his cavalce. A 100-metre gap was maintained between vehicular traffic and PM Modi’s convoy’s he and tail as a measure of protection. Prime Minister's Office (PMO) h instructed Delhi Police that only required number of cops would be assigned for PM's security. PMO h also ordered Delhi Police that traffic restrictions should be minimal and demanded an end to practice of blocking traffic on opposite lane.

Meanwhile, PM Modi is currently attending Global Investors' Summit, 'vant Assam'. two-day event, starting Saturday, will showcase state's manufacturing opportunities and geostrategic vants to foreign and domestic investors.

Summit has been organised by Assam Government, in association with industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), aiming to position state as India's Expressway to Association of Souast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.