Bangalore: IT czar Azim Premji today (Jan 21, 2004) defended US moves to fingerprint and photograph foreign nationals entering the country and said he would make an American trip next week, his first after he was profiled by immigration authorities post the terror attacks on the US.

"They are tightening up their security with these measures. After a long time, I am going to the US next week," Premji, chairman of the Bangalore-based Wipro, told reporters.

Azim Hasan Premji had expressed reservations after he was profiled by US immigration authorities because of his Muslim name during a business trip to the US after the September 2000 terror attacks.

Even in India, he said, there were security hurdles that were being implemented, adding that this should not be a concern in the interest of security against terrorists.

"If you are profiled once, and subsequently many times, you are equivalent of a (US) citizen," Premji said.