Patna, March 21 (IANS): Taking cue from Punjab, a Congress minister in Bihar on Tuesday demanded an end to the use of "red beacon" on the official vehicles of ministers in the state.

Education Minister Ashok Choudhary, who is also state unit chief of the Congress, said: "Yes, I have demanded an end to the VIP culture on the lines of the Punjab government."

All vehicles of ministers and top officials should be without the beacon, Choudhary told the media here.

His demand was supported by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party but was met with scepticism by ally and ruling Janata Dal-United,

JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said VIP culture was misused in Punjab due to the drug menace. In Bihar, there was no such problem, he added.

The new Punjab Cabinet in its maiden meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday announced an end to the use of red beacons on official vehicles by the Chief Minister, ministers, legislators and officers.

The Amarinder Singh-led Congress government assumed charge in Punjab on March 16 after the party swept the assembly polls on March 11, winning 77 of the 117 assembly seats.