I Apologise to Parliament, Not AI Staffer: Sena MP Gaikwad

After Lok Sabha was adjourned, Gaikwad hit out at the Civil Aviation Minister over the flying ban imposed on him.

Ravindra Gaikwad (Photo Altered by The Quint)

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who recently assaulted an Air India staffer, had a verbal altercation with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, after the Lok Sabha was adjourned on Thursday over the ban imposed on him by seven airlines.

Shiv Sena MP’s gheraoed Raju over the flying ban on Gaikwad and threatened that unless it is lifted they “won’t allow the airlines to fly from Mumbai”.

The situation was defused after Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP MP SS Ahluwalia intervened.

Earlier, Shiv Sena MPs were agitated over a statement of the Civil Aviation Minister, who reiterated that the ban was not aimed at a Member of Parliament, but for a passenger and safety was most important in flights.

This led to a protest by Shiv Sena members, and the House was adjourned.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha earlier, the MP from Umarga apologised to the House for causing any hurt, but refused to apologise to the Air India staffer he had attacked.

In Parliament, Gaikwad cut a sorry figure, saying he was being subjected to a media trial. Seeking a lifting of the flying ban, he likened Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to his mother, and asked for “justice” to be done.

Ban Likely to be Revoked on Thursday

The Shiv Sena has threatened that it will not attend the 10 April NDA meeting if the flying ban on its MP Ravindra Gaikwad, imposed by domestic airlines after he beat up an Air India officer, is not revoked.

Party sources, however, said the travel ban is likely to be revoked on Thursday.

Addressing a news conference, party MP Sanjay Raut said there has been a conspiracy behind the ban and the party will expose it at an appropriate time.

Air India to Step Up Security

Air India is likely to step up security of its staff at Mumbai and Pune airports after Shiv Sena lawmakers allegedly threatened to stall the airline's operations at these two aerodromes.

"We are enhancing security of our staff deployed at Mumbai and Pune Airport in the wake of threat to ground flight operations at these aerodromes," an Air India source said.

The security of Air India's employee is paramount, and it can't take any chance over this, the source said.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
Producer: Anubhav Mishra