New Delhi:
Reacting to reports that Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, was patted down by an American security agent at a US airport, Ronen Sen, a former Indian envoy to US, said security screening at airports is applicable to dignitaries from all countries.
Sen said such screenings were not new and he too faced similar experiences between 2004 and 2009, not only in US but also in Germany.
"Security screening at airports is applicable to dignitaries from all countries, with the exception of Union Cabinet Ministers and above, that too on official visits," he said, adding, "The exception is not applicable on private visits. It is not even applicable for Ambassadors, Governors, Chief Ministers or Ministers of State. It does not apply to former Presidents or PMs."
Security agents claimed Meera Shankar was singled out because she was wearing a sari. But Sen insists that the "screening has got nothing to do with what one's wearing."