India and United States are planning to hold talks on appropriate mechansims for security screening of dignitaries in the backdrop of frisking of APJ Abdul Kalam at a New York airport informing New Delhi that the former President was not exempted from security checks.
In response to this, an official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said that it had immediately lodged a protest over the incident after which the US government wrote a letter to the former President apologizing and assuring the Indian government that it was taking coercive steps to prevent such incidents.
He said that the US authorities have explained that under the existing US regulations, former President Abdul Kalam does not fall into the category of persons who are excempted from security screening.
He added that however the US authorities has expressed their usual courtesies towards him at the airport, including escort and private screening.
The spokesperson again added that after the President Abdul Kalam lodged into the Air India flight, the US Transport Security Agency (TSA) agents requested the Air India staffs for Presidents Kalam's jacket and shoes, which was reported to be unchecked according to the prescribed procedure during the private screening.
Air India later on sought the consent of the President, who had by then removed his jacket and shoes and settled in his seat, to hand them over to the TSA authorities, adding that soon his personal belongings were returned shortly after the scrutinizing.
MEA had soon lodged their protest regarding this incident with the US side.
Subsequently, the US goverment promptly wrote to the President seeking apology over the incident and also assured Indian authorities that it is taking coercive steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
He said that the two governments are also planning to hold discussions to explore appropriate mechanisms for facilitating airport procedures for dignitaries.
News reported by AR for Newsvision newspaper
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