Breaking traffic rules "a fashion statement"

The preparations for the Commonwealth games are felt everywhere in the city and getting the traffic to run smoothly and well is one of the more challenging tasks facing Delhi. An article appeared in the Guardian newspaper a few days ago entitled “Minister urges Delhi motorists to get into gear before 2010 Commonwealth games” and I thought this was one of the interesting quotes from it
“But one of the big concerns facing Delhi is traffic, and the minister said: "We still find vehicles jumping red lights … police vehicles are not excluded – they, too, jump red lights. The Harvard-educated minister, seen as one of the government's biggest hitters, added: "We want to encourage people to change their mindsets. We must behave as citizens of a big, good international city."
Experts were quick to back the minister. Dipankar Gupta, a professor of sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said breaking the law was a "fashion statement" in Delhi.”
A Fashion Statement how, why, in what context – all very bizarre. Is it therefore fashionable to be above the law is that the implication? If that is the case it will take a lot longer than one year to sort this out as this population is mad about fashion.
When reality hits it is a very sad picture and not in the least bit fashionable.
I took my eldest to the airport at 6.30 am. Delhi is quiet and fresh at that time of morning. Along the road though we came across a familiar scene. A crowd had gathered. There were several cars and one Delhi police car. In the road was a bicycle and beside it covered in sack cloth that was frayed and brittle, lay a body. All you could see were his plastic sandals. A life gone for a cheap fashion statement and it is only the very beginning of the day.