The short and direct answer to this is a BIG YES. But it cannot be avoided; we live in the age of terrorism every place and you cannot blame people for getting paranoid. I would rather be safe than lose my life.
Yes, those reasons were fair enough for action to be taken against anyone, doesnt matter if they were Indian or any nationality. Using laptops and mobiles, not wearing seat belts and obstructing crew are reasons enough. In these times of increasing terror threats and security, it makes it even more important to realise that some basic common sense as well as flight etiquette. Everyone has to follow basic rules and regulations. Lets not indulge in sensationalism or get swayed by false nationalism. I can understand outrage, and join them if they were arrested without them doing anything or charged. Everyone has the right to protect themselves and take all possible precautions. We cannot suggest that they cannot take precautions and detain people on suspicion? We dont take precautions at times, and we see the result!
Arnab was rude, arrogant and irresponsible besides being irritating while interviewing stalwarts like Mr.Yashwant Sinha, Mr.Parthasarathy and Mr.Javed Akhtar on 25th night. He needs to be sacked as he is instigating people to revolt when this issue has to be seen with mature mind and lot of caution in the prevelant terror threats and co-operate with any govt authority in future also. Flight crew members have no time to weigh the background of passengers or their nationality or origin. Suppose out of any such 12 persons, one or two happen to own indian passport and travel with fake documents posing as indian and then truth is unearthed, how will TV channels project the issue?? they have no patience to wait and get appropriate authorities to give official information but choose to go on air accusing these officials. Few weeks back indian airforce planes forced an overflying aircraft at Mumbai airport and released aircraft and crew after they were satisfied about the bonefides. Immdtly after mumbai blasts of July 11, mumbai police roundedup over 200 muslim members to filter to get suspects with indian identity and that was justified?!
It is sad to see the approach of Indian TV channels-especially Arnab Goswami of Times Now TV. Invariably all TV anchors/newsreaders assume the role of sole reps of indian citizens and go over board. The Dutch did not start any racial discrimination. Only 12 passengers, all muslims -the fact they may not have known till touch down, out of total 173 passengers comprising of other indian citizens have been deplaned and questioned only due to their irresponsible behaviour. The relatives mentioned that their kin has been in export import business for over 15 years. Some of the 12 were hardly 32plus which means they started export at age 17!!!!! the 12 behaved irresponsibly and got attraction of crew and despite warning continued their behaviour to be escorted by airmarshalls. Arnab Goswami of Times TV took the lead to call the incident as racial and all tv channels wanted to beat each other for their own mileage. Why did not the other of 173 people on the flight complain of racial approach even when they were to be housed in some hotels? indian tv channels are irresponsible, reckless and arrogant and want to sensationalise and capitalise on this.
RE:racially profiled?? who says so?/ only ambitius, immature television anchors.
by Joseph Maprayil on Aug 26, 2006 03:45 PM Permalink
You are to the point Mr. Swaminathan.
What the TV guys did is patently wrong. In fact we, the public, also should wait for form our opinions. As I understand it, one of the detained travellers himself admitted that the aircrew became suspicious after the bunch of idiots started exchanging seats. Hope Rhea Ganguly, official from the Indian mission, would throw some light on the issue.
RE:racially profiled?? who says so?/ only ambitius, immature television anchors.
by Raja Mohan on Aug 28, 2006 11:26 AM Permalink
Media is really commercial nowadays and all they do is extracting the sleeping evil from some of us. While talking about educating the poorer class, Population need some good thinking, the media chooses the topics like Vandematharam, racism and Ganguly. And to ignite us, they even manipulate their writeups and visual programs. Even the current rediff article which should be unbiased had some content that ignites us.(look at the sentence "That was reason enough for the pilots of Northwest Airlines to send an SOS to the Dutch authorities." By saying this instead of being neutral rediff took a side and tried to direct the readers in that direct.The reality in the flight was not that simple.) Media can come with goo topics and extract excellent opinions and suggestions from people instead of provoking readers to blame a country, community, caste, persons or a group.
One of my friends had a bad exp. when he was travelling to Saudi.
That was his first visit to Saudi and he was going for a short visit (3-4days). The authorities made him open all the bags upside down and they were very rude in doing it. They took all the product catalogue he had with them because it had photo of a girl and all the magazine he had like India today and Sportstar were also taken out and thrown in a dustbin.
He was a Christian and his 2 colleagues who were Muslims did not suffer this irony as they were simply allowed through. They had to wait for more than 1 hr before this guy joined them.
He did not face this in any other Middle East country like UAE, Oman and Qatar, which are the places he visited during the same trip.
He has now clearly made up his mind not to visit Saudi at all in the future.
I support what they did. If all around the world one community is spreading terror, then what is wrong in suspecting the whole community. Its better delay than somthing bad. One should take all the action to curb terror, it might be little uncomfortable but its for good.
Being a Muslim and living in the USA and has traveled recently, I would like to advice my Muslim brothers and sisters that after the 9/11 and Bush Wars in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, the status of Muslims have been changed in the Western World. If you look like Muslims (many Hindus and Sikhs too), you are targeted by the security cameras, security guards and their computers. It would be in the best interest of Muslims to be more careful and peaceful rather than react or over-react when some one asked them anything. They must carry all relevant documents with them and show them at once before the security demand. Over and above, they must follow all the new rules and be prepared to follow more orders if they are asked. If not necessary do not travel in Air until the American politics is calm down. )the Bush War against Arabs and Muslims,
No I have travelled in US in both domestic and international flights. In my last trip, the guy in front of me (a white man) was asked to remove his shoes for checking at Frakfurt airport. The thickness or material of the shoe sole made them to do that. I was asked to remove the shoes when I was having another make of shoes, with a thicker sole. That is the role of security.
If muslims or people with muslim name are being targetted, that is surely because of the image brought in by the said "dedicated muslims" who will kill anyone, including innocent kids just for money. If not for money.. do you think at any time in the coming future all others in the world except muslims will be killed and only those who love muslims or just muslims will be remaining?? They are just making their community's life more miserable by doing all these b*** sh**.
The recent incident should not be linked to racial discrimination in any form. Just try to answer this question yourself: will the airline crew risk their jobs just to discriminate an individual or a group. The officer/crew will be fired if the airline finds no reason of suspicion. So, racial discrimination should be thought as the last reason of detention. Hence, the crew did the right thing in suspecting and imagigining the worst that the act of those irresponsible idiots could lead to. If you don't want to be identified as the "bad people" or "potential terrorists", then do some good acts yourself. And important thing is that "you people" who think they are being discriminated, should come forward and condemn openly, or at least actively, such irresponsible acts of "your people" and not shout at those who are trying to work hard to secure lives of innocent people which are in danger because of some extremists belonging to certain region or religion. I wouldn't mind extra security check to assure that I am no danger to anybody. So, cooperate, don't rebel.
