Official cars in Bengal could get green beacons thanks to Mamata's red allergy

For West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, no colour invites her ire as much as red, for its association with the Left front. From government building walls to anything else that can be thought of, the West Bengal government is doing everything to wipe out the ‘Red raj’ in the state. But the TMC’s  latest plan- to change all red beacons on official cars in West Bengal to green - is perhaps the most novel scheme yet. [caption id=“attachment_1040591” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee with a green chair.[/caption] And here’s their reasoning. “Red is the colour of allergy. If you have a rash, your skin turns red. But green and blue are soothing colours. If you suffer from eye problems, doctors advice you to look towards the sky or towards any green-coloured object. I feel we should get rid of red even on beacons fitted over hoods of our cars,” West Bengal Minister Madan Mitra was quoted as telling the Hindustan Times. And if Mitra is to be believed, Mamata has already given her consent for the same.   Speaking to The Indian Express Mitra said the file has already been sent to CM Mamata Banerjee. “We will ensure there is no place for red in West Bengal. I have discussed the matter (of removing red beacons) with Didi and she has given her consent,” Mitra told the daily. Since Banerjee took charge of West Bengal, one of the constant endeavours of the state government has been to change everything painted red to green. According to this Economic Times article, in May 2011, all that was red inside Kolkata’s iconic Writers’ Building was turned to green, sparing the 1780 Corinthian facade designed by Thomas Lyon. For now at least. If you thought that was bad, the colour red is avoided even on invitation cards and floral bouquets. This Times of India report states that when Mamata was railway minister, care was taken to ensure that there was no red in the backdrop to the dais. Not even a red carpet or cushion. So allergic is the Trinamool Congress to red that in 2012, even road dividers, railings in parks, chairs at public functions were changed to any colour other than red. Railway buildings in West Bengal were also stripped off their red paint and shades of yellow, green, pink and even purple were plastered onto them.