Relaxing helmet rule for pillion riders hinted at

Relaxing helmet rule for pillion riders hinted at

The Hindu

Implementation of rule put off for 15 days: Kumaraswamy

# `Decision taken to facilitate a detailed discussion on the issue'
# A meeting of senior officials will be held today

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has indicated that the Government may relax the helmet rule for the pillion rider.

He told presspersons after inaugurating the conference of Health Ministers of southern States on chikungunya here on Sunday that though the Government Order had already been issued, and the helmet rule was due to come into force from August 1, the implementation had been put off for 15 days.

Mysore Staff Correspondent reports:

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the decision was taken to facilitate a detailed discussion on the implementation of the rule in the wake of public opposition to it.

Speaking to presspersons at the government guesthouse, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he had held a meeting of senior officials on Saturday and decided to put off the implementation of the helmet rule for the time being.

"The notification issued by the Government on July 12 seeking to implement the helmet rule from July 31 will be withdrawn," the Chief Minister said.

A meeting of senior officials would be held again on Monday. "We will at least try to exempt pillion riders from compulsorily wearing helmets," he said.

Reacts to charge

Mr. Kumaraswamy, who had come under attack from the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earlier in the day for leading a Government that did not enjoy the mandate of the voters, chose to turn the tables against the former JD (S) leader.

"Did the Congress-led coalition Government in which Mr. Siddaramaiah was the Deputy Chief Minister enjoy the mandate of the people?" In the same breath, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance at the Centre too did not enjoy the mandate of the people.

The Chief Minister denied allegations that the JD (S)-BJP Government had colluded with the arrack lobby.