NEW DELHI: Union aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday stoked a controversy by admitting that he often carried matchboxes on flights.
And what's more, Ashok Gajapathi Raju went on to brag that being a minister he was not frisked any more and hence, he could now save his lighters and matchboxes.
The minister questioned how matchbox could become a security threat.
"You can't hijack a plane with a matchbox," the minister said, adding, "I haven't come across any incident worldwide where a matchbox had led to any threat."
"I am a heavy smoker so my matchboxes came along with me which earlier used to get confiscated," Ashok Gajapathi Raju said at a function of Bureau of civil aviation security at DRDO Bhavan.
Aviation rules do not allow anyone to carry matchbox on board flights.
However, the minister later speaking to reporters defended his comments.
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