By IANS,
New Delhi: Days after a senior Indian diplomat was asked by security staff at a US airport if they could check his turban, US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer Wednesday met representatives of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) here and assured them that the US will strike a balance between religious sensitivities and security needs of travelers.
The US envoy met some representatives of the Akali Dal at his office and discussed a host of issues, including the recent frisking of India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Puri, and India’s Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar in two separate incidents at US airports.
“The ambassador noted the party’s concerns and reiterated on behalf of the US government his highest esteem for India’s talented diplomatic community,” a statement by the US embassy said.
“I have high regard and deep respect for ambassadors Hardeep Puri and Meera Shankar and the tremendous work that they are both doing in support of US-India relations. I regret any inconvenience that may have resulted for either ambassador as a result of recent incidents,” Roemer said.
“I reaffirmed the US commitment to provide thorough and respectful screening while ensuring that we effectively fulfill our security mission for all passengers,” the US envoy assured.
“The United States strives to balance our respect for all religions and cultures with our need to ensure the security of all travellers,” he said. “We welcome dialogue and look forward to working with all political parties in India to advance our historic indispensable partnership,” he added.
India has taken up with the US the “pat down” search of Shankar and Puri. Puri was reportedly asked by airport security staff in Austin, Texas, if they could check his turban. Puri has clarified that he refused to have his turban checked and that the airport security official apologised to him later.
“I have taken it up with the US authorities,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters Tuesday.
“Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, has also given an indication to the fact that they are going to revisit some of these procedures, particularly with reference to diplomatic corps of other countries,” added Krishna.
Puri’s frisking came just two days after the external affairs ministry summoned the US deputy chief of mission, Donald Lu, to strongly protest a “pat down” frisking of Shankar only days earlier.
Voicing “strong concerns” over the “pat down” frisking of Indian diplomats in the US, India has made it clear that if such incidents are repeated it will have no choice but to review privileges granted to US diplomats. India also asked the US to sensitise the authorities at all its airports to cultural and religious sensitivities of foreign diplomats.