NEW DELHI (TIP): With the Gandhi family out of power, son-in-law Robert Vadra may lose his exalted exemptfrom- frisking-at-airports status. After taking over as aviation minister of May 30 , Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati said that “security should be meaningful not ornamental” in reference to Vadra who is the only individual named in the list of dignitaries exempt from security checks at airports.

All others on that list are high constitutional positions with Vadra being the only individual. “It is for the home ministry to see the threat perception of individuals. But generally, by and large, Indians should go through security checks,” Raju said. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has 30 positions on the exempt list which begins with the President of India and goes upto special protection group protectees. The only individual listed in that list (on number 31) is Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law.

Last week, the Air Passengers’ Association of India had written to aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa why was Vadra getting this special privilege that is reserved for Constitutional authorities only. The list of exempt people is displayed prominently at all airports and the inclusion of Vadra’s name in it led to many people writing to the Association, asking it to take up the matter with the government.