The former President of India, the supreme commander of Indian armed forces was subject to routine security test by a an US Continental Airlines staffs (Detailed Story)

(Honourable) Kalam was reportedly forced to wait on the aerobridge even as the airlines security personnel debated whether to put him under the security scanner or not. Kalam was asked to surrender before the security officials for a complete body check and remove his footwear as well.

The airlines were informed about status of the former President of India. There were informed about the protocols defined by India for the stature of the President. Yet the airlines insisted and persisted:

He had to go through the entire security check because it is our policy to frisk everyone. This is the policy Continental Airlines follows over the world. There is no special rule for VIP or VVIP.

It happened at IGI (The International airport of Nations own Capital). Later the airlines apologized. But the story doesn’t end here.

There are several unfortunate aspects of this story:

The story is good three months old. All the time the Government of India remained silent on the issue. The airlines remained stubborn on their point. (stubborn, since they now feel they were wrong). And they apologised only when it became a hot matter of debate.

There are people who actually rejoiced the idea (Reader’s comment).

RegGuy,-,says:every one should be treated the same way. When i get frisked at the airport, why not any other individual. Only in India are the politicians are above the law. when they travel , all road are closed for them. Why . Ordinary citizen does more for India, then the so called elite

Its shocking. Its not about the privilege of a politician. Its about the sovereignty of India. Respect of India. Protocol established. And the mock of the nation, when it protocols are violated in its own ground.

I am not socked by disrespect shown by the airlines to our beloved president. What is really shocking was the fact that Indian authorities allowed it to happen on their own soil. What is really shocking is that the persisted in their ways.

What the airlines did was to the former president of some third world nation where they operate only for the profit. The justified their stand. They got supporters as well.

But how are we going to justify our inaction? How are we going to justify what we allowed to happen on our own land?

This was not even the beginning of the story. Years ago, George Fernandes, as the then defence minister of India, was subjected to a thorough body search while on an official visit to the US, it was a clear breach of protocol. Fernandes was a minister of the government of India and he needed to be shown the respect that was due to a visiting dignitary.

I must reiterate it is not about special privilege. I am not talking about honourable Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam and I am not talking about Mr. George Fernandes. What I am talking about is the former President of India and the then defense minister of India.

Do we see the word India around? Do we still need to be progressive enough to demand equality when India is involved? Can we really justify inactions in the name of security and threats. I agree with the security and threat concerns – but threat from whom? From Dr Kalam?

Somebody commented (see above) that It happens only in India. I agree. I don’t believe  you can put a former US president to same treatment anywhere in the world. Forget US. You wont be in a position to do the same thing almost anywhere in the world.

Have we forgotten the preamble of our own constitution where we solemnly resolved to constitute India in a sovereign nation? Are we sovereign?