The Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid, Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati on Saturday removed the red beacon from his vehicle.
He, however, denied that there was any political pressure on him to remove the beacon and insisted that it was his own decision to remove the device.
However, he had said in a statement last Thursday that he has been a religious leader for decades and had always used the red beacon throughout the years. Consequently, he would not comply with orders of the Centre to remove the beacon, as he believed it was his right to use it. This had triggered a controversy among various sections of society and government.
Taking a u-turn from his earlier stand, he has finally removed the beacon from his vehicle.
The state Library and Mass Education minister, Siddiqullah Chaudhary on Saturday criticised Barkati for defying the Central government order, saying that a Shahi Imam does not require a beacon.
Recently, the Centre had decided on the removal of red beacons from all vehicles, mandating that no one, regardless of their position, can make use of the beacons any longer.