Bangalore: Minister for Home and Parliamentary Affairs M.P. Prakash on Thursday said the police have been asked to go slow on the implementation of helmet rule for two-wheeler riders following shortage of good quality helmets.

Mr. Prakash told presspersons during an interaction organised by Bangalore District Working Journalists' Association here that the police had been directed not to insist on helmets for the time being as ISI marked helmets were not available in the market. "The rule making wearing of helmets will be given some time. It could be between a fortnight and a month."

Mr. Prakash's reaction came after he was asked to clear the confusion over wearing of helmets as Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy recently hinted that the rule could be relaxed after a discussion on the issue at the Cabinet meeting. Further, he said that it was wrong to blame the riders for not wearing helmets because good quality helmets were not available in the market.

He said he was not aware of the context when the Chief Minister had hinted at withdrawal of the rule. Mr. Prakash said: "I do not know under what pressure the Chief Minister made the comment and do not want to contradict his statements. But as of now the rule making it compulsory for the rider of the two-wheeler to wear the helmet remains."

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