April 01, 2026 06:56 pm (IST)
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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.
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