New Delhi: In a blatant admission of misusing VVIP status, union Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju today claimed that he often breaks the law by carrying matchboxes on flight.
The minister said that his matchboxes are never confiscated as he is not frisked because of his VVIP status.
It should be recalled that aviation rules do not allow passengers to carry lighters or matchboxes on board.
“Once I became a minister of civil aviation, people stopped frisking me. I am a heavy smoker, so my matchboxes came along with me, which earlier used to get confiscated. And now, I do not lose my match box, but I am yet to come across an incident worldwide where match boxes became a threat," Raju sadi at an official function in New Delhi.
"I do not know what explosives a match box has, but this is the reality. But how do we make security meaningful without being obtrusive and without obstructing economic activities. Civil aviation is fortunately or unfortunately an activity which has a direct impact on economics, the growth of the country. Therefore, all these angles have to be addressed," he added.
