Kalam frisking:India to take up issue with US at highest level

New Delhi, Nov 13: Outraged at former President APJ. Abdul Kalam being subjected to frisking for explosives at New York"s JFK Airport, India on Sunday threatened retaliatory action against US dignitaries unless such “unacceptable" practices were stopped.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna spoke to Indian Ambassador to U.S. Nirupama Rao and directed her to take up the matter in writing at the “highest level" with Washington after it emerged that Mr. Kalam was frisked in New York on September 29 before boarding an Air India flight.

Even after Kalam was seated, the U.S. security personnel forced the crew to open the door and took away the jacket and boots of the former President to check for explosives since they had forgotten to do so before his boarding.

Officials said the Minister has also sought a detailed report on the incident from its mission into the incident which they said was unacceptable. They further said that if this continues, there is a possibility of reciprocating as per diplomatic norms.

This is not the first time that Kalam has been frisked by U.S. aviation officials.

Kalam was frisked by officials of U.S. airliner Continental Airlines in April, 2009 despite his name featuring in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security"s list of people exempt from security checks in India.

PTI