Kalam frisked at US airport, outrage in India

PTI

New Delhi, 13 November 2011: India has strongly objected to former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s frisking at a US airport. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has asked India’s envoy to Washington, Nirupama Rao, to take up the issue at the highest level.

 

"This is unacceptable and is being taken very seriously," Mr Krishna said.

 

Mr Krishna has asked Ms Rao to tell Americans that India may reciprocate.

 

Dr Kalam was frisked at the JFK Airport in New York by the US officials. His jacket and boots were taken away by US security officials to check for explosives.

 

This is the second time Dr Kalam has been frisked by an American airline. On April 21, 2009, the former President was frisked by the staff of Continental Airlines at Delhi airport. The incident had led to a huge uproar in India with a debate being raised in Parliament. The airline and the US government had later apologised to Dr Kalam following India’s protest.

 

The airlines had breached protocol when it frisked the former President. The protocol exempts the President and former Presidents from airport security checks.