October 4, 2020: Questions were raised over the quality of ink used to stamp passengers landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi after a senior Congress leader shared pictures of the ink smudging and causing what seemed to be an adverse allergic reaction on his skin.

The National Secretary and Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress Madhu Goud Yaskhi took to Twitter and tagged Hardeep Singh Puri, the civil aviation minister, and asked for his immediate intervention into the matter.

He wrote, "Dear @HardeepSPuri Ji, can you please look into the chemical being used at Delhi airport for stamping on passengers coming from abroad? Yesterday I was stamped at @DelhiAirport and this is how my hands look now."

He attached two pictures with the tweet.

Responding to his tweet, Hardeep Puri said, "Thank you for drawing my attention to this." He added that he had spoken to the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Meanwhile, Delhi Airport also replied to the message. In a statement on Twitter, the official handle of the airport said, "We deeply regret the inconvenience caused. The ink used for stamping is a standard indelible ink. We've reported the issue to the Delhi State Authorities. Currently, this batch of ink is being kept aside for testing by the supplier and further desired action. Thank you for highlighting this issue."

Stamping is done at certain airports in the country, in tune with quarantine rules laid down by the state governments.

This is not the first time when such a thing has happened. A few months ago in Odisha, the government's decision had made it mandatory for all those returning to the state from outside to be stamped on the right inner forearm with indelible ink that left many people with burnt skin and rashes.

People had experienced severe skin burn and some even saw peeling of the skin after the square quarantine ink stamped on the back of their hands.

Even in Goa, there were many complaints of skin burn and allergic reactions following inward stamping at Patradevi checkpoint. However, when the matter was reported, the Goa Government confirmed the ink had been replaced.