Comments on: Should Kalam have been frisked?

By: East Coast Indian

East Coast Indian — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:07:05 +0000

The word “frisking” has mildly violent connotations, and should not be used in this context. When a person goes to the doctor to get an EKG done, shirt and shoes come off, and the doctor sticks elctrodes all over, but the doctor hasn’t “frisked” that person, its just part of the process.

I have the highest regard for Dr. Kalam. In this case, however – can the Indian governent gaurantee the safety of his baggage and belongings through the entire chain of custody? The IGI airport has literally no securtity uptil checkin (anyone with a printout of an e-ticket can get in). If the terrorists get a hold of this VIP list, all VIPs can be easy targets in the Indian airports. All the terrorists have to do is slip in an explosive device or a cellphone bomb into the carry-on luggage or even checked luggage of these VIPs, KNOWING that they will skip security. VIPs are humans too – they take off their coat when it gets hot and hang it on the back of the seat while in the waiting area, they go to the bathromm and can’t always keep a wathful eye on all their belongings.

On a lighter (pun) note – do all VIPs understand the rules of flying? What if a VIP who smokes has a lighter or matches in the checked luggage. The security procedures take care of all these inadvertant mistakes – are we to trust all VIPs with the safety of perhaps 300 passengers in a 777?

The diginity of VIPs is not more fragile than the dignity of the common passenger – and I’m happy Dr. Kalam seems to agree. We can have a parallel process for VIPs. But then we also need to have a VIP dignity-protecting EKG m/c that can take readings w/o frisking.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:06:06 +0000

What does Dr. Kalam’s cat eat? Friskies

By: r

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:09:02 +0000

Yes it was a breach of protocol and the airlines proved it by offering an apology later. Dr. Kalam is not only the former President of India but a evry renowned scientist and intellectuals of our country.
@ Raman, if you cant trust your own president for security then u have no right to live on this land. It is a total breach of protocol, i’m sure george bush or even musharaf for that matter go thru the security check. this was an utterly disgusting incident.

By: Richard Moorman

Richard Moorman — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:09:25 +0000

Clearly, Kalam has no style. Instead of just letting them get away with it and just pouting about it, he should do what this one North American guy did when United Airlines broke his guitar when he flew with them recently. He’s written a song about it and posted it on youtube. It’s quite good, has a lot of hits and is making United look bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqo zo
Yes – it’s not racial – American run airlines treat everyone terrible.

By: Atal Bhaisaab

Atal Bhaisaab — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:26:32 +0000

Ye koi acchi baat nahin hai…

By: G M Bahuguna

G M Bahuguna — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:29:06 +0000

It’ s A shame for our nation.

By: L. Swain

L. Swain — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:59:35 +0000

I am surprised that the Protocol Officials accompanying Dr. Abdul Kalam had not briefed airline staff suitably. No airline operating in another country can ignore the official exemptions applied in that country.I believe each and every nation has similar exemptions.
The airline staff have acted out of ignorance and overzealousness, and discretion should have been exercised and the ex-President and Head of State should not have been subjected to frisking – unless there were specific grounds for suspecting him. I believe that at times, certain people act dumbly and routinely out of sheer ignorance and lack of judgement. The Airline should have apologised promptly and graciously!

By: Anmol

Anmol — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:53:32 +0000

I do not think there is much room for a debate here. If we respect US Dignitaries, they ought to respect our’s. Let them get this straight..the sooner the better!
I agree with Sumeet here. We had a similar (or even more terrific) attack on Taj Hotel in Mumbai where Hillary Clinton stayed a week back, so does that mean we start frisking her. Had you liked her getting frisked by hotel officials all the time on way to her suite?

Again, I’m in strong favour of making security checks more stringent for the safety of all. So, lets accept and make this law universal for all VIPs and VVIPs or forget it.

By: indian-to-the-roots

indian-to-the-roots — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:32:29 +0000

Well at least some one somewhere is following the laws of their land. Indian laws cease to be effective once you leave the terminal, and the US laws come into play. Cynthia was being conscientious. The fault is entirely of the Indian authorities who should have sorted out the issue and the confusion which was waiting to happen.

India has the right that its ex-head of state should be allowed his dignity but it is Indian government rather than a US airline which needs to be solicitous about that.

By: Sumeet Jain

Sumeet Jain — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:31:54 +0000

This one for Mr. Dirk, who posted his comment on July 24th, 2009 12:02 pm GMT:

Dear Dirk… you mentioned that in wake of NY skyscrapers (which indeed were the great pride of all Americans) tragedy due to airlines security lapse, all passengers should be frisked irresp. of stature and post… then plz answer this: Our Indian parliament (all Indians pride) was attacked by same anti-peace group who hit NY towers in same year 2001, so should we frisk all American dignitaries before allowing them to enter into our Parliament premises??? Just imagine how reaction would have been when Hillary Clinton (who recently visited India around same time as this incident) been security-screened! So, plz plz don’t quote and relate such high “sensitive” and “emotional” incidents of NY to this mishap. Even though I.m of full support that ALL should be screened and checked, but plz get UN approval and make it universal-law. Thank You