Airline gets notice for frisking Abdul Kalam
Some facts about Dr. Abdul Kalam:
- Director of the project to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III)
- Responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV
- Responsible for developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
- Responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles
- Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)
- Author of 4 books "Wings of Fire", "India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium", "My journey" and "Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India"
- Awarded the coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997)
- 11th President of India…and the list goes on
Such is the stature of one of the most respected and distinguished personalities of modern India. No doubt such a furor was created when a foreign airline was involved in frisking him, making him wait in the aero-bridge and treating him like a “normal airline passenger” as a part of the routine airport security exercise. However, what boggles my diminutive brain is, WHAT CRIME DID THE AIRLINE OFFICIALS COMMIT?
The airline officials lucidly stated that, they did what is to be done according to their company policy i.e. to scrutinize every person using the airline, irrespective of whether that person is a VIP or a VVIP. Instead of applauding them for their unprejudiced and impartial act, they were forced to dole out a public apology. The fundamental question to be asked here is why is there a different set of rules for a different set of people in the first place?
This is one of the many flaws which makes way for other debauched malpractices like Corruption to seep into the system. Our great MP’s and MLA’s have customized, reshaped and revised the red-tape in such a manner so as to be suited for their own convenience. No matter in which part of India you are, there is always a separate parking space, train berth, airline seat reserved for our dignified VIP’s. Heck, there is even a fully furnished “cell” waiting for them when they are sentenced to a jail term.
The irony of the fact however is that, according to the airline officials, Dr. Abdul Kalam was very cooperative and underwent the entire process without any hitch. So who were the ones who created such a ruckus over the entire issue? None other than those very same politicians who felt that their VIP stature was at stake if they would be subjected to such “blasphemy” as “airport security”.
So next time, if you want to smuggle that expensive 80 Gig IPod or bootleg that chic Sony PSP you desperately wanted to lay your hands on, you know whom to call; Your friendly neighborhood VIP, of course!
This article also on
The airline officials lucidly stated that, they did what is to be done according to their company policy i.e. to scrutinize every person using the airline, irrespective of whether that person is a VIP or a VVIP. Instead of applauding them for their unprejudiced and impartial act, they were forced to dole out a public apology. The fundamental question to be asked here is why is there a different set of rules for a different set of people in the first place?
This is one of the many flaws which makes way for other debauched malpractices like Corruption to seep into the system. Our great MP’s and MLA’s have customized, reshaped and revised the red-tape in such a manner so as to be suited for their own convenience. No matter in which part of India you are, there is always a separate parking space, train berth, airline seat reserved for our dignified VIP’s. Heck, there is even a fully furnished “cell” waiting for them when they are sentenced to a jail term.
The irony of the fact however is that, according to the airline officials, Dr. Abdul Kalam was very cooperative and underwent the entire process without any hitch. So who were the ones who created such a ruckus over the entire issue? None other than those very same politicians who felt that their VIP stature was at stake if they would be subjected to such “blasphemy” as “airport security”.
So next time, if you want to smuggle that expensive 80 Gig IPod or bootleg that chic Sony PSP you desperately wanted to lay your hands on, you know whom to call; Your friendly neighborhood VIP, of course!
This article also on
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