Clinton waits in aircraft in New Delhi

Amitabh Shukla

New Delhi, May 26

Former US President Bill Clinton, currently on a tour to India, did not disembark from his aircraft for about 15-20 minutes on Wednesday afternoon after landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The reason –US security officials wanted their own vehicles to go up to the tarmac to bring Clinton instead of the vehicles sent by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A detailed account of the entire episode was written in a letter sent by the officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Clinton and special envoy of UNSG on Tsunami recovery HE Willium were scheduled to arrive at 1100 hours by Boeing 737. The flight was delayed and landed at 1320 hours. "Follow me" was provided and the aircraft was brought to Bay-41.

Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Meera Kumar, a Joint Secretary of the MEA and Deputy chief of Protocol came to receive the ex-president of USA. Two crested cars of Government of India (Mercedez), vehicle permit were requested by MEA and the same was issued by AAI.

However, the US Embassy security officials were not satisfied. They demanded from the MEA officials to issue vehicle permits for US Embassy vehicles to go upto tarmac. This was declined by the MEA since that is not the norm. The US Embassy officials did not appreciate this, the letter states.

After the VIP aircraft parked on the Bay-41 (aircraft Registration No. N515GM, type B-737), US security officials went inside the aircraft and came back after a few minutes. They announced that the ex-president would not disembark unless and until US Embassy's vehicle is provided to him. "The VIP did not disembark for about 15-20 minutes," the letter said.

Subsequently, MEA officials requested for four vehicle passes for the US Embassy vehicles. This was issued by the AAI after the MEA request. VIP Security, Delhi Police, US Embassy security and CISF were consulted. Four vehicles were then allowed to go upto the tarmac from VIP Gate near Ceremonial Lounge. The numbers of the four vehicles which went inside were noted – 77CD 1, 77 CD 69, 77 CD 75 and DL 1 CH 5779.

The entire episode and the demand by the MEA to issue four vehicle passes for any embassy at the IGI Airport was described as "unprecedented". "This was done on the insistence of the MEA to avoid embarrassment to Government of India," the letter states.

According to US embassy norms, any American official of cabinet rank and above is entitled to an armored limousine as security. Clinton, being the ex-president, comes under this category of US protocol. When contacted an American embassy official refused to comment on the issue saying that this was not a state visit. (2005)