 "Govt decides to withdraw no-frisking privilege to Vadra")
Government has decided to withdraw the privilege of not being frisked at airports to Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, an action he promptly welcomed saying he had been waiting for this as he was "no VIP".
A notification is being issued soon by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and sent to all airports, official sources said today.
"Finally!! I am glad and have been awaiting this so called and never used, Security Exemption Privilege to be removed at Airports," he said in a statement.
His reaction came in the wake of the government's decision to strip him off the privilege.
The Home Ministry has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to go ahead with its plan to review the list of 33 categories of people, including the Dalai Lama and Vadra, who are currently exempted from frisking at airports in the country.
The Home Ministry has said it does not consider the threat perception to Vadra serious enough to warrant his inclusion in the 'no-frisking' list but had advised the Civil Aviation Ministry to take a final call after consultation with the Special Protection Group, which guards his wife Priyanka Gandhi.
As of now, Vadra is not frisked at airports if he travels with an SPG protectee. Once he is dropped from the elite list, he would be subjected to frisking at all airports even if he travels with an SPG protectee.
The current no-frisk list includes the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Supreme Court Judges, High Court Chief Justices, Chief Ministers and their deputies, Governors and Ambassadors.
Those who are protected by the SPG such as Priyanka Gandhi and brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi are also not subjected to frisking at airports.
A notification is being issued soon by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and sent to all airports, official sources said today.
"Finally!! I am glad and have been awaiting this so called and never used, Security Exemption Privilege to be removed at Airports," he said in a statement.
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"I am and have been more than ready to give a written consent to remove my name from this VVIP list. I am no VIP and I have expressed my view on this subject in the past as well. Please stop wasting people's time with this news, every few days," Vadra added.
His reaction came in the wake of the government's decision to strip him off the privilege.
The Home Ministry has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to go ahead with its plan to review the list of 33 categories of people, including the Dalai Lama and Vadra, who are currently exempted from frisking at airports in the country.
The Home Ministry has said it does not consider the threat perception to Vadra serious enough to warrant his inclusion in the 'no-frisking' list but had advised the Civil Aviation Ministry to take a final call after consultation with the Special Protection Group, which guards his wife Priyanka Gandhi.
As of now, Vadra is not frisked at airports if he travels with an SPG protectee. Once he is dropped from the elite list, he would be subjected to frisking at all airports even if he travels with an SPG protectee.
The current no-frisk list includes the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Supreme Court Judges, High Court Chief Justices, Chief Ministers and their deputies, Governors and Ambassadors.
Those who are protected by the SPG such as Priyanka Gandhi and brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi are also not subjected to frisking at airports.