File Photo: Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, today said that he's "No VIP" and shouldn't be treated as one, after the government removed his name from the 'no-frisking' list at airports.
Mr Vadra, 46, travels with a Special Protection Group or SPG personnel and had been exempted to be frisked at airport security checks across the country.
"Finally!! I am glad and have been awaiting this so called and never used, Security Exemption Privilege, to be removed at Airports," he said in a statement.
Mr Vadra said that he's more than ready to give a written consent to remove his name from the VVIP list. "I am no VIP and I have expressed my view on this subject in the past as well. Please stop wasting people's time with this news, every few days," he said.
The Home Ministry has said it does not consider the threat perception to Mr Vadra serious enough to warrant his inclusion in the 'no-frisking' list but has advised the Civil Aviation Ministry to take a final call after consultation with the Special Protection Group.
The Home Ministry has also asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to re-visit and review the complete list of 33 categories of people, including the Dalai Lama, who are currently exempted from frisking at airports in the country. The ministry, along with Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, is expected to begin the review and trim the list.
The current list includes the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Supreme Court Judges, High Court Chief Justices, Chief Ministers and their deputies, Governors and Ambassadors.
Mr Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi and brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi, who travel with SPG personnel, are not frisked at airport checks.