Forget about it: Kalam on US frisking incident

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam today downplayed his frisking by US security officials at New York's JFK Airport, saying it was not worth talking about.

"Forget about it. It is not worth talking about," Kalam said while responding to a question on the sidelines of an IIMC event here.

80-year-old Kalam was twice frisked at the JFK Airport by security officials who even took off his jacket and shoes to check for explosives before he was to board an Air India flight on September 29.

The US authorities had later apologised to Kalam for the incident after India protested the matter at the highest level.

Kalam was also frisked by officials of US airliner Continental Airlines in April, 2009, despite his name featuring in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's list of people exempt from such checks in India.