Frisking of Ex President Dr. Kalam : USA apologises

New Delhi: In what is clearly a breach of protocol and an insult, former president APJ Abdul Kalam was frisked and also asked to remove his shoes for checks by an international airline at Delhi�s Indira Gandhi International Airport recently, reports said on Tuesday.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered a probe into the incident involving the ground security staff of Continental Airlines which subjected Kalam to security check before he was to board a Newark-bound flight on April 24.

Prior to boarding the flight at the IGI airport, the former head of state was asked by the airline staff to take off his shoes during frisking and his belongings were scanned through an X-ray machine.

As per sources close to Kalam, he did not take up the issue with the government. "It is the airline policy to check everyone. They never listen to any Indian agency," they said.

The former president also had to "surrender" before the staff for a complete body check, the sources claimed.

But Kalam was "very cooperative" and "he happily underwent the entire process".

This is a clear breach of protocol because as a former president, Kalam is exempted from frisking and all other security checks.

The Directorate General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for security at the country�s airports, denied the security checks were conducted by them.

DIG CISF (Airport Security) Udyan Banerjee said the first level of security check, which is conducted by the force, was waived but a second level of checking is done by the airlines.

However, Continental defended its action saying that, as a policy, each of their passengers, including VIPs, are frisked across the world.

The airline�s spokesperson told a TV news channel that the former president happily went through all security checks.

The incident has created uproar in the Parliament, with the MPs cutting across party lines demanding strict action against the erring airline.

In Rajya Sabha, the entire House, including Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, expressed anguish over the "humiliation" meted out to the Bharat Ratna, whom they described as the tallest figure and a national hero.

In his response to the Rajya Sabha, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel also termed the frisking of Kalam as an �unpardonable act�.

"Not only the preliminary inquiry has been ordered but we also have a preliminary report on the basis of which the Continental Airlines has been issued a show cause notice why action for wilful violation should not be taken," Patel said. .

This is not for the first time an Indian VIP has been frisked at an airport. Last year, the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was frisked at Moscow airport. In 2003, the then Defence Minister George Fernandes was also made to undergo security screening in the US.
Former president Kalam frisked, asked to remove shoes at IGI

It was a shocking news to me.Why western countries are very particular with checking our leaders and not any mujahadeen is a wondering fact.I will take this as an insult to the whole country.More funny part is the people who checked him was INdians ,acting on orders of their immediate superior in job an American as per media reports

Dr kalam's humbleness is reflected from what has happen at IG airport, but it is equally true that he is former head of state of India and as per protocal some relexation should have been made, keeping in view his stature and his age.

it is high time that these type of airline should be kept under check, BTW some one please disclose name of that airline which has done something as stupid as this act.

if action involve suspension of their operational licence for two months in India, i personally dont mind it.

continental airlines as per media report

The Hindu News Update Service

New Delhi (PTI): Taking a serious note of the "unpardonable" act of frisking of former President A P J Abdul Kalam at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, government has slapped a show cause notice to the US-based Continental Airlines for violating guidelines.

"Not only the preliminary inquiry has been ordered but we also have a preliminary report on the basis of which the Continental Airlines has been issued a show cause notice why action for wilful violation should not be taken," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Mr. Patel was responding to the anguish expressed by the entire House, including Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, over the "humiliation" meted out to the Bharat Ratna, whom they described as the tallest figure and a national hero.

Mr. Kalam was frisked by the Airlines at the embarkation point some time back when he was going to the US.

I agree with Sayareakd here, an exemplary punishment must be meted out, and what is more shocking is that this happened in the Capital of India.

If any other Politician were to have been frisked ,he would have been screaming his lungs out.
Hope Maya is frisked some day.

This was done by continental Airlines.The superior was an American who insisted on the frisking.Continental Airlines spokesman says they have a policy where they check everyone including VIP's.
I have read on news sites were users have commented," Why make a fuss out of it".


To that I have to say," Will Continental Airlines frisk Hillary Clinton- period ? "

If the answer is "No" then they and others like them need to be taught a lesson.

ok let's frisk Hillary clinton when she leaves India.

That would be a fitting reply but i do doubt our officials have that guts to do so.

How is Hillary responsible ? And monkey see monkey do ?

I remember that George Fernandes was strip searched when he went to America once (about 7 to 8 years ago).. and this was when he was the Defence Minister...

Later, an American official (Armitage) came to India and offered an unconditional apology for that strip search...

However i'm in awe of Dr.Kalam ,his cooperation shows his appreciation for necessary procedures even if searching him was out of line.

The airline was continetal airline of USA

Jesus let's stop being soft.

All I'm expecting is some dignity for our Father of missiles, Bhartha ratna, Ex-President, visionary, great teacher... he is not only a hero, a larger than life personality for every Indian... will our govt atleast bitc.h slap the airline?

It's on our goddamn soil unbelievable.

:2guns: Continental Airlines.