Robert Vadra to lose no-security-check privilege at airports

With the Gandhi family no longer in power, Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi’s husband, may lose his privilege of being exempted from frisking at airports.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, who took over as aviation minister on Friday, said, “Security should be meaningful, not ornamental,” on the subject of Vadra being the only individual named in the list of dignitaries exempt from security checks at airports. Everyone else on the list hold high constitutional positions.

Pusapati said, “It is for the home ministry to see the threat perception of individuals. But generally, by and large, Indians should go through security checks.”

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has 30 positions on the exempt list including the President, Vice President and Chief Ministers. The list of exempt positions which is displayed in airports has led to many people writing to the Air Passengers’ Association of India for including Vadra’s name.