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Journalism of Courage
Contrary to the Governments claim,no FIR has been registered so far by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security against Continental Airlines over ex-President A P J Abdul Kalams security check.
Not because the Government has had a rethink over its VIP obsession but because it cant figure out which law is being violated. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had said that the FIR would be registered for gross violation of BCAS Circular No.6/2008,which exempts specified VVIPs/VIPs from pre-embarkation security checks.
This circular,however,doesnt fall under the purview of The Aircraft Act and officials are exploring how to take legal action.
When contacted,Joint Commissioner of Police (Operations) Satyendra Garg said: No FIR has been registered yet.
Incidentally,the US Transportation Security Administration has already made it clear that the airline followed its rules and that Indias VVIP list doesnt meet TSA norms under which all US-bound passengers even former Heads of State flying in on US commercial planes have to go through pre-boarding security checks.
Seems,the law isnt the only stumbling block for the Ministry.
In a statement it issued slamming the airline,Kalam was referred to as Shri APJ Abdul Kalam Azad, perhaps confusing the ex-President with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad,a leading light of the freedom movement.
This mistake appeared in three announcements the fourth one got the name right. Clearly,someone didnt do a pre-release fact check.
