Quick-thinking traffic police officers in Bangalore has been praised for giving an ambulance priority over the presidential motorcade, according to media reports.
Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Bangalore on Saturday to inaugurate the Metro’s Green Line and arrived at the Trinity Traffic Circle on his way to the Raj Bhavan at the same time as an ambulance carrying a patient to a private hospital, ANI reported.
Traffic police sub-inspector ML Nijalingappa and traffic constable Vishwanath Rao made the humanitarian decision to give the ambulance the right of way instead of showing deference to the president.
But their superiors clearly approved of their bold decision.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Praveen Sood told NDTV: “We have issued instructions time and again that any emergency services should get precedence over a VVIP, but I must say, it is not an easy decision to take on the field.
“It is very easy for us to pass instructions. They have shown application of mind, presence of mind and took a decision – we have rewarded both the officers suitably. So this is like sending a message that if you allow an emergency vehicle, nothing will go against you, in fact we will appreciate your action.”
On Twitter, one person pointed out that giving an ambulance priority over the movement of a politician’s convoy should be a “basic expectation.”