The Civil Aviation Minster of India, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, does not mind carrying matchboxes with him in the flights.

Raju himself admitted that he violates rules while he was addressing a gathering at the bureau of civil aviation security (BCAS) on Tuesday.

The minister, who is not subjected to frisking, disclosed that before taking charge as minister last year, he had to give away his lighters or matchboxes but now the matchboxes he carries with him does not get confiscated by the airport security.

When asked if he finds no harm in carrying matchboxes and lighters, he said “I don’t know. I carry a matchbox in my pocket. Even now, here also, I carry it. It’s not a secret.”

“My own lighters and matchboxes kept getting confiscated,” he said. Raju added, “I know you will make an issue out of this. I am yet to find an incident worldwide where matchbox has become a threat.”

His comments have come at the time when there are plenty of issues related to aviation security concerns.

He said, “There is a need to make security more meaningful without being obtrusive”.

“After becoming the civil aviation minister people stopped frisking me and my matchboxes also came along with me,” he said.

The minister was at BCAS to talk on the aviation related security concerns and the ways to tackle them.