By Newsgram Staff Writer

Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju's recent confession about carrying matchboxes on flights has started a debate on how VIPs misuse their privileges.

Raju said at the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) event that he carried matchboxes on plane as he is not frisked because of his position in the government.

"I have yet to come across an incident worldwide where a matchbox became a threat" the minister said trying to water down his offence and the threat he placed his fellow passengers under.

Matchboxes and lighters are one of the few items that passengers are not allowed to carry on a flight as they may cause risk or inconvenience for the passengers.

Regardless of this fact, Raju recounted "Once I became minister, people stopped frisking me, so a matchbox, which used to be confiscated, came along with me.".

The minister's comments became a national debate on the VIP culture of the country.