Not being taken off no-frisk list to malign me, says Vadra

NEW DELHI: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra on Saturday claimed he had given consent several times for removal of his name from the `no-frisking' list at airports and wondered if it was not being done to "malign" his image.

In a Facebook post, Vadra said he had never used this privilege and should be treated as an ordinary citizen. "I am clear, but wish the concerned authorities would understand that I am NOT A VVIP or a VIP ... I am a proud citizen of INDIA!" Vadra said.

Vadra's statement comes on the back of reports that the government has no plans to remove him from the `no-frisking' list.The `no-frisking' privilege, enjoyed by SPG protectees like Constitutional dignitaries and Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi spares them from going through security checks at airports. I have voiced and given my consent to remove my name from this list, many times ... Maybe I need to personally go to every airport and delete my name, will that work? Or is it a part of a larger conspiracy to malign my image ... I am humble and as normal as any citizen, so please treat me like one, otherwise write every Indian citizens name on the VVIP list and please stop wasting people's time," Vadra said.

Asserting that it takes less than a minute to get frisked and he has nothing to hide, Vadra said , "There are much larger issues to be dealt with.My humble request is to focus on them."

"My conduct says it, but apparently the analysis disclosed by the government on my `threat perception', allegedly says I am not required to be on this list, so why double standards in removing and further including my name, in the VVIP list," he said. "... there is nothing to hide, that cameras need be avoided!''