Govt. of India slaps show cause notice to Continental Airlines on Kalam issue

New Delhi, July 21 (ANI): The Government of India has slapped a show cause notice to the US-based Continental Airlines for violating guidelines, in the wake of airliner's "unpardonable" act of frisking of former President A P J Abdul Kalam at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

"Not only the preliminary inquiry has been ordered but we also have a preliminary report on the basis of which the Continental Airlines has been issued a show cause notice why action for wilful violation should not be taken," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Patel was responding to the anguish expressed by the entire House, including Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, over the "humiliation" meted out to the Bharat Ratna, whom they described as the tallest figure and a national hero.

Kalam was travelling to the US about a month ago on Continental Airlines when the incident happened.

Sources at the airport said Continental Airlines employees frisked Kalam in what is called the second line of security check. He was made to take off his shoes and asked to wait before being frisked.

The Directorate General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) denied the security checks were conducted by them.

However, Continental Airlines defended the same saying that it was a regular security check as the policy of the company is to frisk everyone. They also said that there is no special rule for VIP or VVIP's. (ANI)