Advani plays down strip-search of Fernandes in US

Monday, 12 July 2004, 19:30 IST
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BANGALORE: Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani Sunday sought to play down media reports about former defence minister George Fernandes being strip-searched twice in the US while on official visits. Advani told reporters here the body search and removal of shoes and socks at entry points in the US did not amount to "stripping". "Fernandes did not tell us at that point of time about these incidents. Post 9/11, it has become common to frisk passengers at US airports as a routine security check. Maybe, asking to remove shoes and socks amounts to stripping in that country," Advani said. Reports about Fernandes' comments that he was strip-searched twice in the US, based on a new book by former US deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott, appeared in the Indian media Sunday. Referring to his own visits to the US, especially during the past year, Advani said he did not face similar situations, though he was aware almost everyone visiting the US was subjected to security checks. "I will discuss the matter with George. Had he pointed out what is being reported now, the (previous) National Democratic Alliance government would have taken up the issue with the US administration," Advani quipped.
Source: IANS