The controversy over the non-inclusion of the three service chiefs in the list of VIPs exempt from security checks at the airports has been resolved with their inclusion in the exemption category by the government."I think it is appropriate to give them exemption who defend our country's borders," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters in the Parliament.Patel said that the three service chiefs have been included at Number 12 in the Warrant of Precedence issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan indicating thereby that those who figures in the warrant are waived from security checks at the airports.Asked whether such exemption would open a pandora's box with fresh demands coming from different sections, the minister replied in the negative."We have a committee, which goes into all such issues before taking a decision. Only the three service chiefs have been included. There is no question of the opening a pandora's box," he said.The fact that the privileges the airport authorities extend to Cabinet ministers, ministers of state, several senior officials, VIPs, including the husband of Priyanka Gandhi among others, was missing for the chiefs of army, navy and air force had upset many in the military.The deputy chairman of the Planning Commission has also been given exemption from the security check at the airports.
