<p>"There is no controversy whatsoever. Insofar as I am concerned, no pat down took place," Puri told IANS referring to an incident with him at Texas airport in November. "I don't know why there is an attempt to generate a controversy."<br /><br />"I know what the American procedures are. I never asked for any exemption. And I would not on security ask for an exemption for myself. "When I was going through the security scanner, there was no beep. So when he asked for a pat down, I said 'your rules provide that I can do the pat down myself' and that's what happened. So where is the controversy?" Puri asked.<br /><br />Referring to External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna's comment that such searches of diplomats are "unacceptable", the envoy said: "Let's take two things. What Mr Krishna said was in the context of what happened to (the Indian envoy to the US) Meera Shankar, who was patted down twice."<br /><br />"So far as my pat down is concerned, I made it absolutely clear as I am telling you now, no pat down took place. There was an attempt at a pat down. You can take exception to that. "But, as I said, personally for me, I am not even objecting to the pat down. I said I am a global citizen and if there are security rules, I'll happily comply with them."<br /><br />Asked how such incidents could be avoided, Puri said: "That's for the government authorities in New Delhi to do. So far as I am concerned, these are security regulations which the US has and it's for them to decide whether certain categories should be exempt or not."<br /><br />"If I have any suggestions to give, I'll give them to my government directly. I am not going to be sending suggestions through the press, howsoever friendly."<br /></p>
<p>"There is no controversy whatsoever. Insofar as I am concerned, no pat down took place," Puri told IANS referring to an incident with him at Texas airport in November. "I don't know why there is an attempt to generate a controversy."<br /><br />"I know what the American procedures are. I never asked for any exemption. And I would not on security ask for an exemption for myself. "When I was going through the security scanner, there was no beep. So when he asked for a pat down, I said 'your rules provide that I can do the pat down myself' and that's what happened. So where is the controversy?" Puri asked.<br /><br />Referring to External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna's comment that such searches of diplomats are "unacceptable", the envoy said: "Let's take two things. What Mr Krishna said was in the context of what happened to (the Indian envoy to the US) Meera Shankar, who was patted down twice."<br /><br />"So far as my pat down is concerned, I made it absolutely clear as I am telling you now, no pat down took place. There was an attempt at a pat down. You can take exception to that. "But, as I said, personally for me, I am not even objecting to the pat down. I said I am a global citizen and if there are security rules, I'll happily comply with them."<br /><br />Asked how such incidents could be avoided, Puri said: "That's for the government authorities in New Delhi to do. So far as I am concerned, these are security regulations which the US has and it's for them to decide whether certain categories should be exempt or not."<br /><br />"If I have any suggestions to give, I'll give them to my government directly. I am not going to be sending suggestions through the press, howsoever friendly."<br /></p>