New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) BJP leader Vijay Goel was on Monday fined Rs.3,500 for violating the odd-even traffic scheme and for driving his car without a licence and insurance papers, police said.
The Rajya Sabha member paid up in cash just after he left his residence on Ashoka Road, which is where the BJP is also headquartered.
A traffic police officer told IANS that Goel was fined Rs.2,000 for violating the odd-even scheme, Rs.1,000 for not having insurance papers for his car and Rs.500 for not carrying a driver's licence.
Goel had announced that he would drive a car with an odd registration number on Monday, a day meant for diesel and petrol driven private vehicles with even registration numbers.
Goel said his violation of the odd-even scheme -- which is aimed at battling pollution -- was to protest against the way Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was being promoted in advertisements.
Earlier, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai met Goel on Monday morning and requested him not to violate the odd-even scheme.
Rai presented a rose to Goel and said a deliberate violation of the odd-even scheme by a parliamentarian would send a wrong message to the public.
But Goel refused to relent.
The first phase of the odd-even scheme ran from January 1 to 15. The second phase began on April 15 and will end on 30, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., except on Sundays.
The scheme is not applicable to vehicles using compressed natural gas, two-wheelers, women motorists and several categories of VIPs.
