being an Indian, i will not accept this happening to us, specially our leaders to be frisked by any foreign airline to do this to our leaders or any of us. They should know that they are not bigger/better than our laws and leaders. I am proud of being an Indian, but this has shocked even me. Continental Airline should realize that they will regret this very dearly, for what they have done. Our leader are not going to sit quietly on this. It will be judged, and i will be done BIG TIME.

Here is the News Coverage i found on this incident:

Former Prez Kalam frisked at Delhi airport

In what is seen as a clear violation of protocol, Former President APJ Abdul Kalam was treated as a commoner as he was frisked by the ground staff of Continental Airlines at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on April 24, 2009 at the insistence of the company’s American boss. The former President was on his way to Newark on Continental Airlines Flight CO 083. Kalam was reportedly forced to wait on

the aerobridge even as the airlines security personnel debated whether to put him under the security scanner or not. Kalam was asked to surrender before the security officials for a complete body check and remove his footwear as well. However, the Continental Airlines defended the same saying that it was a regular security check as the policy of the company is to frisk everyone. They also went on to add that there is no special rule for VIP or VVIP’s. “He had to go through the entire security check because it is our policy to frisk everyone. This is the policy Continental Airlines follows over the world. There is no special rule for VIP or VVIP. Infact, Kalam was cooperative and underwent the entire process which happened over a month ago,” said the Public Relation Officer of Continental Airlines. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that corrective measures will be taken if anyone is found wrong. He added, “We will ask for correction action from the airlines and incase they are proven wrong, we will ask them to tender and apology.” Any airline operating in India is given a set of guidelines, which includes the point that Our Presidents and former Presidents are on the VIP list and are exempted from security checks-let alone frisking. This kind of a incident is not one of a kind. There have been instances where Indian VIPs have been treated shabbily at foreign airports. Earlier, our then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was forced to undergo security checks at the ceremonial lounge in the Moscow airport in 2008, while he was on his way back to India.

Related New I found:

Patel takes action; to apologise to Kalam

Taking a serious note of the “unpardonable” act of frisking of former President APJ Abdul Kalam at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, the government on Tuesday (July 22) slapped a show cause notice to the US-based Continental Airlines for violating guidelines. Praful Patel, the Civial Aviation Minister, while addressing the Rajya Sabha went on to say that he would personally go to Kalam and apologise for the incident. “Not only the preliminary inquiry has been ordered but we also have a preliminary report on the basis of which the Continental Airlines has been issued a show cause notice why action for willful violation should not be taken,” said Patel. Associating himself with the strong sentiments expressed in the House during Zero Hour, Patel said, “this act of frisking the former President is absolutely unpardonable and beyond the scope of laws of our country”. Patel said he would not only take action against the Airlines, but also speak to the Minister of External Affairs on the issue. Responding to Left members’ demand that the operation of Continental Airlines be suspended immediately, he said any action that India takes would be in consonance with international practice. “We cannot take action in isolation”. He said the airports security is handled by the Central Industrial Security Force and frisking happens only at the embarkation point, manned by the airlines staff. He added, “I can assure the House, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security will take most stringent action,” Patel said, adding that he would “personally explain the position and express regret to Kalam.” Patel was responding to the anguish expressed by the entire House, including Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, over the “humiliation” meted out to the Bharat Ratna, whom they described as the tallest figure and a national hero.

Uproar in political circuits Demanding a probe into the incident, Sitaram Yechury CPI-M wondered whether the frisking had anything to do with the name Abdul Kalam. He said if that is so, it is “much more serious”. Yechury spoke out about the Kalam issue alleging bias. He also went on to say that the incident is really unfortunate. Speaking to a bunch of reporters outside the Parliament, he said, “This is a most unfortunate incident. The airline security officials may not have had knowledge that he was a former President of India. Or whether this has something to do with his name, in which case it is a more serious issue.” Meanwhile, Former Union Minister George Fernandes too reacted to former President APJ Abdul Kalam being frisked by Continental Airlines at the Delhi airport. Fernandes said that it was a disgraceful act on the part of the airline, and not just the airline but even the US government should apologise for what has happened. Fernandes himself had been frisked on a tour to the US in 2003. He said, “This is a disgrace that the American airline did so. They should not have done that. Kalam has visited America when he was a President and not just the airline but the US government should regret for this as well.” Kalam was frisked by the Airlines at the embarkation point some time back when he was going to the US. Kalam was reportedly forced to wait on the aerobridge even as the airlines security personnel debated whether to put him under the security scanner or not. Kalam was asked to surrender before the security officials for a complete body check and remove his footwear as well.

FIR against unrepentant US airline

Sources have told TIMES NOW that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has decided to file an FIR against the unrepentant Continental Airlines in connection with the the frisking of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. Even after news of India’s former President Abdul Kalam has got politicians outraged, Continental Airways has issued a letter stating how the rule of frisking passengers is a must with no exceptions. The letter by continental is unapologetic and states that the Transportation Security Administration requirements impose a final security check in the aerobridge just before boarding the aircraft. Also, the Airways has clarified that the procedure is followed by all carriers flying to the US from most of the countries in the world and there is no exemption to this rule.

5 Killed in Metro Bridge Collapse

In a gruesome mishap on Sunday morning, part of the Delhi Metro segment under-construction collapsed in Zamroodpur, close to Kailash Colony, South Delhi, killing five labourers and injuring 15 others.

While the incident occurred at 5 am on a busy intersection close to Lady Shri Ram College, rescue operations to remove the bodies was still in the progress.

According to DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal, preliminary inquiry showed that the accident had occurred as a pier cap got displaced.

The pier cap on top of the pillar gives support both to the launcher and the segment. The launcher is used for erecting the segment.

This was the second incident involving a launcher, the first happened in Laxmi Nagar in October 2008.

DMRC chief Sreedharan was flying from Bangalore soon after hearing the incident, he added.

He said work was on at the Central Secretariat-Badarpur section of Metro Railway when the segment collapsed.

“Around 30 persons were working at the site at that time and 15 of the were injured who were taken to Moolchand hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Safdarjung. Three of them were suffering from major injuries, three were discharged after first aid,” Dayal added.

The entire site, which is on the busy intersection of East of Kailash-Amar Colony-Kailash Colony, has been cordoned off.

Large crowds and media thronged the area packed with police and fire brigade personnel to see the fallen segments on the ground and dangling gargantuan orange coloured launcher.

Speaking to HT at the site Additional DCP South East Sanjay Kumar Jain said, “Delhi Police, Fire Brigade, Disaster Management team all rushed here soon after call of the collapse came at 5 am. Three persons have been killed, two are still trapped, 12 injured have been taken to hospital.”

The whole structure was still hanging precariously and one had to work very slowly otherwise it could collapse, he added.

“The collapse of the heavy structure had broken the road and burst a pipeline. The water had been shut off,” he said.

“Fortunately at that time there was not much traffic on the busy intersection except those labourers who were working.”

He said police would be registering a case of death due to negligence.

Vijay Bahadur, Divisional Fire Officer, East Delhi said, “We have deployed ten Fire Brigade units including the Bronto Skylift which can go above 40 metres. We are trying to use to skylift to raise the fallen launcher after putting slings.”

He said the fire brigade had removed three casualties from the site.

DMRC chief Sreedharan quits after Metro accident

In a dramatic announcement that came on his birthday, Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan today said he was quitting from the post owning moral responsibility for an accident at its construction site which claimed five lives.

Sreedharan, who turned 77 on Sunday, announced his decision at a crowded press conference here this afternoon, soon after his visit to the site of the collapse of an under-construction bridge of Delhi Metro in Jamrudpur of south Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar.

“As the head of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, I take moral responsibility for the incident…So I have decided to resign and I have put in papers and I have sent it to Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit,” he said.

Asked whether his decision will delay the Metro projects which are scheduled to be completed before the Commonwealth Games, he said, “The views you are making may be correct but my personal conviction in this matter cannot be compromised.”

Delhi government said it was not for taking any hasty decision on the resignation of Sreedharan.

“We are not to take any hasty decision on the resignation of Sreedharan,” said P K Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister.

Delhi Government says it will not not take any “hasty decision” on resignation of Delhi Metro Chief Sreedharan.

“We know that the Metro is doing a good job. But we feel that the contractors are being pressurised to complete the
jobs ahead of the Commonwealth Games as many of the projects are well delayed,” a senior BJP leader said.

E Sreedharan, Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, also visited the site to get a first knowledge of
the accident. Sreedharan, who was in Bangalore in the morning, had cut short his visit and flew back to the capital.

Right now I am going through a little rough time. My employers are in process to terminate my services. my PIB card of journalism is seized. not worried, support of gursikhs giving me strength. parmatma sahayee hai and these hurdles are nothing. As of now i would be more comfortable in replying to others queries.

“Khalsa ji, We should not forget what happenned in 1984. It was third ghallughara against sikhs. I am not in favour to misguide our youth to wrong path but at the same time we need to learn lessons from it. we remember our shaheeds every day in our ardaas. Sikhs have always fought against injustice, not able to understand how Prime Minister is asking us to forget the massacre. Would he or his party can ask muslims to forget gujrat riots?  if not then why asking us. I don’t consider myself as a second grade citizen. Only coward sikhs can forget this massacre.” Guru Nanak Sahib said ‘je jeeve pat lathi jaaye sab haraam jeta kich khaye.’ and guru tegh bahadur sahib said ‘bhay kahoo ko det nahin nanh bhay manat aan’. If we dont follow the path of our gurus then nothing would left in sikhi. We need to live with honour.

Comments, quires, and feedback welcome.

Posted on behalf of:

Jarnail Singh,
Journalist,
New Delhi.

Officially and exclusively posted on http://www.webjassi.com