US homeland security apologises to Praful Patel

Washington/New Delhi, Sep 29: The United States Homeland Security has rendered an apology to Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel over his detainment at Chicago's O"Hare airport.

US Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano has not only apologised to Mr Patel but has also vowed that the US will measures to prevent any such incidents in the future, informed Civil Aviation Ministry officials.

The Union Minister was detained and quizzed by the immigration authorities in Chicago as his name and date of birth matched with that of a person on US watch-list.

He was in Chicago on a private visit.

Mr Patel, who later flew to Montreal for attending an official engagement, sought to downplay the episode.

“I am in Montreal and nothing serious has happened...there is a person with similar name and birth date. That"s why they just double checked," he said earlier.

OneIndia News