In a breach of protocol, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Vijay Goel was allowed to use the ceremonial lounge at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, a facility strictly reserved for classified categories of dignitaries.The incident occurred on December 31 morning when Goel was flying to Dubai by an Indian Airlines flight with his family and insisted on access to the ceremonial lounge, sources told The Indian Express.When it was pointed out by airport officials that as a minister of state he was not entitled to use the lounge, Goel and those accompanying him reportedly threw a fit. They insisted on speaking to the Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain and had their way when Hussain’s secretary requested the airport officials to make an exception and allow Goel to use the lounge.Goel confirmed to this reporter that he had used the ceremonial lounge. ‘‘I did use the ceremonial lounge at the airport but I refuse to comment any further on the issue,’’ he said.According to protocol, only 24 categories of dignitaries are allowed to use the lounge and any exception is made only on a written request from the Chief Protocol Officer in the Ministry of External Affairs. The list of 24 dignitaries includes the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, heads of foreign governments and states and Cabinet ministers.When asked about the procedure that has been laid down, P R Chakraborty, Chief Protocol Officer, Ministry of External Affairs, said: ‘‘While a minister of state is allowed the use of the reserved lounge, for the ceremonial lounge one has to be a cabinet minister.’’ Said Airport Director P S Nair: ‘‘A request had come to me from the minister’s staff for allowing him the use of the ceremonial lounge but I politely explained the situation to him. I am not aware if he was eventually allowed to use the lounge.’’‘‘From the morning itself we were getting calls from the minister’s office to make arrangements for his departure from the ceremonial lounge,’’ says a police official. Officials fear that the incident could lead to similar demands for the use of the lounge from people who are not entitled to it.Visiting heads of state are received at the lounge that’s equipped with an anteroom, a bedroom and attached bathroom.‘‘The biggest advantage of using the lounge is that the customs and immigration officials come to the lounge and clear your papers and luggage instead of you going to them,’’ said a police officer.Nervousness had gripped the officials of the Indira Gandhi Airport once again on Sunday evening when the return flight of the minister (No IC 896) from Dubai was due.Thankfully, the minister himself was not on the flight as he chose to go to Hyderabad and only his family arrived, sparing the staff the dilemma of opening the lounge once again.
