George Fernandes, the former Defence Minister of India, was strip-searched in America. Not once, but twice. At the outset, most of them would brush off this incident as another report on the stringent security checks in US post 9/11. Agreed. But, expressing severe reservations against these kind of 'want-only' indignations are also agreeable.

First, our honourable Minister didn't even have the patience (or shall we call guts) to report it, let alone protesting it. We had to wait for a certain Strobe Talbott to tell us that our Defence Minister had undergone humiliation at Dulles Airport during an "Official" visit. Then comes an apology from US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who said he was 'Horrified' at the incident.

Had George Fernandes gone there on a private visit or in his personal capacity, nobody would have bothered about it. But, there he was at Dulles Airport as the Defence Minister of India, representing India and a billion people who say Maan aur Samman hamara Pehchaan. If a Defence Minister on a protocol can be humiliated like that, who cares for the lay-man!! Geee!! or worse, how will our Government handle the rising hate crimes or cases of injustice to Indians.

There are set protocols for official visits, which the US Immigration authorities flouted with sheer arrogance. They could flout it because they are aware that neither Fernandes nor the Government of India would complain about it. That is the way the US functions.

It is not that the authorities were unaware of who Fernandes was, because he was there on an official visit. It is believed that this is one of the strategies of the US to psyche the dignitary before he could start the official talks. It is, in a way, showing what he is thought of, or how he would be treated. And that is 'unacceptable'.

None would expect Fernandes to create a major issue out of it, but at least an official protest to make sure that it is not repeated or continued, because such kind of indignation cannot be tolerated by any dignitary of any state, especially if he is representing a country.

From the US point of view, it is true that post 9/11, America is facing increased threats from terrorists from almost all parts of the world, it is also true that they have systematic security checks in place. For that matter, security checks are prevalent in almost all countries. Imagine, if Armitage was stripped at the IGI Airport (New Delhi) and made to remove his shoes, shocks, while a junior-ranked security officer asks (tells) him to lift both his hands for a thorough check as if to search a belt bomb or some gelatine or whatever. Oh, the US embassy here would have gone bonkers over the issue and perhaps, would have thought of imposing some sanctions on India!

Now, does that mean only US has the Right of Dignity or Pride, perhaps Yes, as long as India has leaders like George Fernandes.