PM not searched by US security staff: govt

New Delhi, Mar 3 (UNI) Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Suresh Pachouri today denied that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was frisked by US security personnel when he went to the airport on Wednesday to receive President George Bush.

He was responding to loud protests by BJP members who said the security search of an Indian Prime Minister was an insult to the nation.

The members also protested against US securitymen using sniffer dogs to comb Rajghat premises before Mr and Mrs Bush visited the place.

Mr Pachouri said it was a standard security drill which is followed before foreign dignitaries visit Rajghat. The practice started after the failed assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

CPI(M) leader Dipankar Mukherjee said it is ironic that his party was opposing the US president's visit to India and BJP leaders were protesting against the presence of US sniffer dogs.

UNI SU MSJ ND1335