12-07-2007, 04:07 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Service chiefs get their due: No frisking</b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Under attack for treating them shabbily, the UPA Government on Thursday announced that the three service chiefs of Indian armed forces will be exempted from security frisking in civil airports across the country.
The change of heart came within a month of the Defence Minister AK Antony informed the Rajya Sabha on November 21 that the Civil Aviation Ministry had rejected his suggestion that the chiefs of the armed forces be spared the humiliation of being subjected to routine pre-embarking security checks as they enjoyed top security clearance.
Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said he felt that it was "absolutely appropriate" that the people who defended the country's borders should not be made to undergo the frisking to which others are subjected to.
"The warrant of precedence which is issued by the President is the benchmark on which exemptions are given. From number 1 to 11 exemptions have been given and the three service chiefs come in at number 12," the Minister said
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which prepares the list of VVIPs and VIPs who are exempt from pre-embarkation security checks, will now amend the list as per the direction of Civil Aviation Ministry, an official release said on Thursday.
<b>Other important functionaries who are to be exempted from pre-embarkation security checks are the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Bharat Ratnas, Chief Election Commissi-oner, Comptroller and Auditor General and the Attorney General besides the Chiefs of Defence Staff, holding the rank of full General or equivalent.</b>
Thursday's announcement comes in the wake of recent controversy over the service chiefs being subjected to security checks while SPG protectees like Robert Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi, enjoyed exemption from frisking.
<b>Following media reports on the issue, there were murmurs among the top brass in the services, which was openly voiced by former chiefs, that they were being subjected to such checks despite their position</b>.
Asked whether such exemption would open a Pandora's box with fresh demands coming from different sections, Patel replied in the negative.
Among those included in the exempted list are President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, former President and Vice Presidents, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judges, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Union Cabinet Ministers, Governors and Chief MinistersÂÂ
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They had decided to keep security cover to Vadra, Is he important than rest of Indian citizens?
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Under attack for treating them shabbily, the UPA Government on Thursday announced that the three service chiefs of Indian armed forces will be exempted from security frisking in civil airports across the country.
The change of heart came within a month of the Defence Minister AK Antony informed the Rajya Sabha on November 21 that the Civil Aviation Ministry had rejected his suggestion that the chiefs of the armed forces be spared the humiliation of being subjected to routine pre-embarking security checks as they enjoyed top security clearance.
Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said he felt that it was "absolutely appropriate" that the people who defended the country's borders should not be made to undergo the frisking to which others are subjected to.
"The warrant of precedence which is issued by the President is the benchmark on which exemptions are given. From number 1 to 11 exemptions have been given and the three service chiefs come in at number 12," the Minister said
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which prepares the list of VVIPs and VIPs who are exempt from pre-embarkation security checks, will now amend the list as per the direction of Civil Aviation Ministry, an official release said on Thursday.
<b>Other important functionaries who are to be exempted from pre-embarkation security checks are the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Bharat Ratnas, Chief Election Commissi-oner, Comptroller and Auditor General and the Attorney General besides the Chiefs of Defence Staff, holding the rank of full General or equivalent.</b>
Thursday's announcement comes in the wake of recent controversy over the service chiefs being subjected to security checks while SPG protectees like Robert Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi, enjoyed exemption from frisking.
<b>Following media reports on the issue, there were murmurs among the top brass in the services, which was openly voiced by former chiefs, that they were being subjected to such checks despite their position</b>.
Asked whether such exemption would open a Pandora's box with fresh demands coming from different sections, Patel replied in the negative.
Among those included in the exempted list are President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, former President and Vice Presidents, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judges, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Union Cabinet Ministers, Governors and Chief MinistersÂÂ
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They had decided to keep security cover to Vadra, Is he important than rest of Indian citizens?