March 13, 2026 08:46 am (IST)
Follow us:
Aviation minister says he can carry matchbox onto plane being VIP
New Delhi, Apr 7 (IBNS): Flaunting his VIP status, Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday said he can carry a matchbox onto a plane because he is not frisked on the account of his position in the government.
"Once I became minister, people stopped frisking me, so (a) matchbox, which used to be confiscated, came along with me," Raju said as he described himself as "a heavy smoker."
While matchboxes and lighters are banned onto the plane, the minister said he has not come across any incident worldwide where a matchbox has become a threat.
"I have yet to come across an incident worldwide where a matchbox became a threat," he said.
His comments come amid a national debate about VIPs flaunting and abusing the privileges provided to them.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Two oil tankers break Strait of Hormuz deadlock, reach India amid West Asia conflict
Thu, Mar 12 2026
Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla fails after stormy Lok Sabha debate
Wed, Mar 11 2026
India sends relief supplies to flood-hit Mozambique
Wed, Mar 11 2026
Supreme Court allows first-ever passive euthanasia for 32-year-old man in coma for 13 years
Wed, Mar 11 2026
LPG crisis hits metros: Commercial cylinder shortage triggers panic as govt prioritises domestic supply
Wed, Mar 11 2026