Discriminated in US, not in India due to religion: Premji
Azim Premji, chairman of Indian IT major Wipro, has complained of profiling every time he goes to an airport in the United States because of his religion. However, he said that in India he does not find himself being discriminated against for being a Muslim.
When asked, at an informal luncheon meeting with journalists and academics in New York, if he feels being a Muslim is disadvantageous in India, Premji said: “In the first place I consider myself an Indian, and religion does not enter my mind.”
He said he would not be holding the position of the chairman of a software company if he had been discriminated against in India.
“However, ever since I have come to the United States, I have gone to airports four times to catch flights and each time I have been profiled because of my name shows I am a Muslim,” he said.
And then he added jokingly, “I think I should change my name to A Premji.”
Asked whether Indians feel discriminated against in Germany as reports had suggested that foreigners are being targeted, Premji said those he spoke to were happy and did not feel disadvantaged.
They need to be a little more descriptive than just saying "I was being humiliated and profiled".
Did they get picked out on random checking every time they boarded a plane? 50% of the time they boarded a plane? Were the people on the counter rude to them, how did the conversation went on? Did they looked at 'em funny, got the dogs out to sniff their stuff?!
I am flying in the states this weekend, I will share my experience when I come back.
The following is based on my experience. Others may have a different one.
I think, and based on my discussions, the process has evolved in the last one year. Yes, the profiling is there, but its based on risk-factors. This is presumably a new development. Next time you travel, check your boarding card to see if it shows CLR there. This means, that you have been profiled and cleared. Typically, the system tracks if you are a frequent flyer, and who was your travel agent (corporate travel agent or an internet site), is it a one-way ticket or a return ticket, plus a host of other factors. Based on its analysis, it flags individuals which will be selected for additional screening.
I have travelled several times, and was selected only once, when I had bought my own personal ticket for the trip to Pakistan from an airline where I didn't had frequent flyer miles accumulated. In all my corporate travels, the boarding card always showed CLR and I have never once been selected for additional screening. Ofcourse, it won't help if a person who is cleared, does try to act funny and say careless things in an airport. So that is another thing and they will definitely check him extra. I see many caucasians being checked for additional screening, so I am not sure if their risk factors are based on solely on country of origin and or skin. But I won't be surprised if they are, because the hijackers on 9/11 were all middle-eastern, so logically that becomes one of the risk factors.
The problem with folks like Azim Premji and Rohinton Mistry is that they are foreigners in US, presumably on a visit. So, the computer systems have practically no history for them and therefore raise their risk profiles higher. This means that they are asked to submit to additional screening every time they travel.
Plus, I presume in their position, they expect to be treated like a VIP as well. So, any additional procedures may feel insulting. They should remember that recently the airport screeners in one US airport, practically took off the trouser of a US Senator because the steel rod inserted in his thigh was constantly ticking off the metal detector. In matters of security, bank account of the individual and the official position should not be the prime factors. I feel more comfortable seeing a bit of extra security than lax security. Better safe then sorry.