Abdul Kalam frisked at NY airport; US apologises

New Delhi, November 13
Amid growing outrage in India over the frisking of former President APJ Abdul Kalam at New York’s JFK Airport, the United States sought to put a lid on the controversy by “deeply” regretting the inconvenience caused to the Indian dignitary as a result of the September 29 incident.

Kalam was also frisked two years ago at the Delhi airport by a US-based airline.

“After the incident, Chargé d’affaires Ambassador Peter Burleigh personally hand-delivered a letter from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator to former President Kalam. A similar letter was delivered to the Government of India.

In these letters, the US government apologised that appropriate procedures for expedited screening of dignitaries were not followed. “We are actively working to prevent similar incidents from occurring,” the US Embassy in New Delhi said as the issue threatened to snowball into a diplomatic row.

Underlining that the US administration had the utmost respect for the former Indian President, the embassy said, “The US government deeply values and appreciates our strong relationship and partnership with India. We are confident that despite this regrettable incident, we will continue working closely with India in the many areas of our strategic partnership.”

Kalam was in the US in September to attend a series of events and the incident took place while he was returning home from New York on September 29.
Sources said after Kalam had taken his seat in the aircraft, officials of the JFK Airport came inside and said they wanted to check the former President once again. This was strongly protested by Air India authorities.
An Indian protocol officer requested the US officials not to do so and pointed out that Kalam was a former head of state of India, but the plea fell on deaf ears. Kalam’s coat and shoes were later returned to him after a swab analysis.
Sources explained that Kalam did not protest as he doesn't give much thought to such incidents and never complains about them. However, this time, his office informed the External Affairs Ministry about the incident after he returned home.
A detailed report on the incident was prepared by a senior Air India official and sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry which, in turn, forwarded it to the External Affairs Ministry in October.
New Delhi, meanwhile, threatened to take retaliatory action against US dignitaries unless such "unacceptable" practices were stopped. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna spoke to Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao and directed her to take up the matter in writing at the "highest level" with Washington.
A senior Indian official, speaking condition of anonymity, recalled how such ‘unacceptable’ incidents could cast a shadow on Indo-US relations. He pointed out that this was not the first time a top Indian dignitary had been subjected to frisking. Kalam himself was frisked two years ago at Delhi airport by a US-based airline.
The official wondered why India did not take a retaliatory action against visiting US dignitaries. He wondered why the protocol officer’s plea was also ignored by the US officials who frisked Kalam.
Questions are also being raised on whether the Indian envoy was briefed on the incident when it occurred in September-end or did she come to know of it much later.

‘UNACCEPTABLE’ PRACTICE

• Ex-President Kalam was frisked at New York’s JFK airport while returning home on September 29
• After Kalam was seated, airport officials entered the Air India aircraft saying they wanted to check him again
• An Indian protocol officer requested the US officials not to do so and pointed out that Kalam was a former head of state of India
• However, Kalam’s coat and shoes were taken away for a swab analysis and later returned
• On his return, Kalam’s office informed the External Affairs Ministry about the incident
• New Delhi threatened to take retaliatory action against US dignitaries unless such ‘unacceptable’ practices were stopped

The US government has extended its apology as appropriate procedures for expedited screening of dignitaries had not been followed. We are actively working to prevent similar incidents from occurring — US Embassy in India