Rajnath Singh: Terrorists pushing limits, underpants to hit aviation sector

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday stated that terrorists are ‘pushing the limits and even their underpants to hit the aviation sector’. Singh expressed his concern on the security of aviation sector and called this a highly sensitive and high profile in nature.

Inaugurating a two-day seminar on ‘international aviation security’ in New Delhi, Singh recalled the incident of underwear bomber in Amsterdam in 2009,  use of liquid explosives in London in 2006 and shoe bomber in 2001. He said, “The case of the shoe bomber in 2001, the use of liquid explosives in London in 2006 and the case of the underwear bomber in Amsterdam in 2009, clearly indicate that terrorists are pushing the limits and even their underpants to hit the aviation sector.”

The Union Minister further added that aviation sector is highly sensitive and high profile in nature. He said, as reported by NDTV, “The civil aviation sector is highly sensitive and high profile in nature. It also gets worldwide attention when hit by any attack. Often these incidents have geopolitical ramifications.”

Expressing his opinion on the domestic aviation sector, Singh said that India cannot ignore the security of about 40 small airports and heliports. He said, “There are 40 other operational airports and heliports under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS) in India, which are guarded by airport security units carved out from the respective state police forces. The strength of any claim is determined by the strength of its smallest unit, therefore the security of the smaller airports should never be ignored.”

The two-day seminar on ‘international aviation security is being organised by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), guarding 60 civil airports at present. Delegates from 18 countries and several airlines attended the event.

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