Frisking issue before Parliament, how can I comment: Kalam

"I am smiling," quipped former President A P J Abdul Kalam today apparently not wanting to make much fuss over frisking by staff of an American airline at the Delhi airport.        

"It is true that such a thing (frisking) has taken place," Kalam told reporters in Kochi.        

But "the issue has been discussed in both Houses of Parliament. It is before Parliament now. How can I comment?"        

The 77-year-old former President, who is among those exempted from security checks at airports, was replying to questions on whether he felt insulted on being subjected to a security check by staff of Continental Airlines on April 21.        

Kalam, who is on a visit to Kerala, said he is "yet" to receive the apology from the American airliner for breaching the protocol norms at the Delhi's airport.        

"I have not yet received it," said Kalam when asked about the apology sent by the airline.        

The airline had yesterday apologised to Kalam following an uproar in Parliament on the issue of the security check before he was to board a Newark-bound flight on April 21.        

When contacted, the airline today said it had sent the apology letter to Kalam's Delhi office as directed by his official staff and since the former President was travelling, his staff may not have been able to communicate to him about the letter.        

"We are waiting for him to return to Delhi so that we can apologise to the former president in person," a spokesperson of the airline said in Delhi.