NEW DELHI: Defying the odd-even rule that was implemented in Delhi on Monday morning as a measure to mitigate rising air pollution in the capital, Rajya Sabha MP and former state BJP chief Vijay Goel travelled in an odd-numbered car to protest against the vehicle rationing scheme.
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He later stopped at the round about near Le Meridian Hotel in Central Delhi and volunteered to get penalised by the traffic police for the violation.
"This scheme is just a gimmick. AAP government themselves say that the pollution is due to stubble burning then how does the scheme help?" Goel told reporters while he drove off from his residence and added that he was willing to pay the fine for violating the rule.
According to the scheme, only even number vehicles, with the last digit of the registration plate ending with 0,2,4,6 or 8, can ply on November 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14 (November 10 is Sunday and is not covered under the rule). The last digit of Goel's SUV is '7'. Goel got anti-government and anti-odd even slogans printed on his car.
The senior BJP leader was accompanied by party's vice-president and Delhi-in-charge Shyam Jaju and west Delhi MP Parvesh Verma.
Goel was most vociferous BJP leader against the road rationing scheme when it was first launched in January 2016 and had openly defied the rule.
In Video:BJP leader Vijay Goel violates odd-even scheme saying it is a poll stunt