Mr Gandhi, who was flying from Boston to Washington, was taken aside by a posse of FBI agents as soon as he reached the airport and had his travel documents checked in detail in spite of his repeatedly identifying himself as the son of India's former prime minister, sources said here. While the Congress was mum on the issue, officials in New Delhi denied any knowledge of the incident when asked for comments. Ms Sonia Gandhi is currently touring her constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh in the run-up to the state Assembly elections.

Mr Gandhi might have been returning from Colombia when the incident happened, though there was no confirmation about this. After checking his passport and other travel documents, the FBI agents went through his baggage also, even as Mr Gandhi went on strongly protesting the behaviour of the security personnel, who were ostensibly carrying out the task as part of their routine, heightened checking in the aftermath of the attacks.

As soon as the news of his "detention" reached New Delhi, Ms Sonia Gandhi got in touch with India's Ambassador to Washington Lalit Man Singh. Mr Rahul Gandhi was allowed to proceed on his onward journey only after Mr Man Singh brought the matter to the notice of the US administration, the sources said. Though there was no official confirmation of the incident, Congress circles are seriously concerned over the incident as the movement of Mr Gandhi, being under the protection of the Special Protection Group (SPG), should have been known to the American security agencies. Under security norms, the movement abroad of any person under SPG protection is intimated by the Indian security agency to its counterpart in the respective countries.

- nriol.com report

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