Airports take Robert Vadra off no-frisking list

GOA/NEW DELHI: Some airports have begun blanking out the name of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, Robert Vadra, from the list of those exempt from frisking before flying.

This comes as the Union home ministry is sitting on civil aviation ministry's demand for removing Vadra's name from the list of dignitaries.

The Goa airport, for instance, has boards with names of people exempt from frisking. Vadra's name, number 31 on the list, is the only one blanked out with white tape.

"Several passengers used to ask us what Vadra's credentials were to be on that list. So we plastered it out. Now, many express happiness at not seeing his name," said a security official at the Goa airport.

A senior aviation ministry official confirmed the home ministry was yet to take a call on removing Vadra's name from the list.

"We have sought reconsideration on Vadra's name on that list but have so far not heard from them," the official said when asked whether the Centre had decided to remove Vadra's name from the list and allowed airports to implement the move.

The official said the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) prepares the exempt list based on inputs from the home ministry.

Sources said Goa is not an exception. Many airports have started blanking out Vadra's name from the list displayed at security check areas.

The BCAS has 30 individuals on the exempt list, including the President and Special Protection Group (SPG) protectees.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju had promised a pruned and need-based exempt list when he took over as aviation minister on May 30, 2014.

Vadra's wife, Priyanka Gandhi, too had written to SPG chief demanding that her husband's name be removed from the exempt list on May 30 last year.