Backing its controversial MP Ravindra Gaikwad, the Shiv Sena on Monday gave a call for a ‘bandh’ (shutdown) in Osmanabad, Maharashtra, while party workers and supporters held a bike rally in the town of Umarga to show their support for Gaikwad. This comes on the back of local Sena workers burning an effigy of Air India employees at Turori village on Sunday.
Also on Monday, Shiv Sena MPs raised the issue in the Lok Sabha and said the ban imposed by all airlines on Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India employee last week, should be lifted. The government, however, said airlines had the right to refuse a passenger.
Sena member Anandrao Adsul, who raised the issue in the House, said:
He also pointed out that comedian Kapil Sharma was not banned despite having misbehaved with an airline staffer on a flight to Australia.
The party also plans to bring on Monday a privilege motion in to the Lok Sabha over the issue. Adsul had earlier told ANI:
On Sunday, dismissing reports that he had gone into hiding, Gaikwad had claimed that he has been away from the media’s glare because he was asked by a top party leader not to speak to the media about the issue.
Reiterating his stance, the parliamentarian threatened legal action against Air India and said he was not running away and will be present in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Last week, Gaikwad had allegedly abused and assaulted a 60-year-old duty manager of Air India with slippers over not being able to fly business class despite having boarded an all-economy Pune-New Delhi flight.
Following the incident, he was barred from flying by major domestic airlines.
(With agency inputs)
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