Uncle Sam
07-12-2004, 04:18 PM
There's more to this story (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/774093.cms). Personally, I think this Fernandes guy is, how do you say it...Overexaggerating, a bit???
BANGALORE: Former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on Sunday said he had never been strip-searched in US airports and he would talk to NDA Convenor George Fernandes, who as Defence Minister had reportedly undergone such an exercise twice.
"I did not face it during my visits", Advani replied to questions on reports from Washington quoting former Deputy Secretary of state Strobe Talbott that Fernandes was strip-searched twice in Dulles Airport when he was Defence Minister.
The BJP leader maintained that shedding of shoes and socks was a normal security check and officials who accompanied them had to undergo that but wondered whether that can be called strip-search.
If such incidents had implications, Advani said he believed Fernandes would have brought up the subject which was not the case.
Advani also expressed the view that it would not be correct for the Indian Government to protest this (shedding of shoes and socks for security check) as all passengers are subjected to such a procedure.
But he said he would certainly talk to Fernandes to find out the facts. Though he found it strange to liken shedding of shoes and socks to strip-check.
BANGALORE: Former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on Sunday said he had never been strip-searched in US airports and he would talk to NDA Convenor George Fernandes, who as Defence Minister had reportedly undergone such an exercise twice.
"I did not face it during my visits", Advani replied to questions on reports from Washington quoting former Deputy Secretary of state Strobe Talbott that Fernandes was strip-searched twice in Dulles Airport when he was Defence Minister.
The BJP leader maintained that shedding of shoes and socks was a normal security check and officials who accompanied them had to undergo that but wondered whether that can be called strip-search.
If such incidents had implications, Advani said he believed Fernandes would have brought up the subject which was not the case.
Advani also expressed the view that it would not be correct for the Indian Government to protest this (shedding of shoes and socks for security check) as all passengers are subjected to such a procedure.
But he said he would certainly talk to Fernandes to find out the facts. Though he found it strange to liken shedding of shoes and socks to strip-check.