New Delhi/Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Mar. 24 : The Shiv Sena on Friday came out to defend MP Ravindra Gaikwad who has been facing sharp criticism for hitting an Air India staffer over a sitting arrangement and said that everyone loses their temper at some point of time.
"FIR has been filed against him, but even Air India needs to make changes in their system. The condition of the flight is not very good. We will talk to our MP, will listen to what he has to say and will see about it. Be it a MP or a normal person everyone losses their temper at some point of time," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told ANI.
Raut also added that there are number of people who should be blacklisted, who is responsible for bringing Air India to this position and due to which it is facing loss.
"We are not supporting the act of our MP, this is not a culture of our party," he added. Meanwhile, Union Minister of state for law and justice P.P. Chaudhary said that one cannot be barred from travelling or cannot be denied giving ticket. "There is no law that bars anyone from travelling anywhere or denying a ticket. If someone has committed a crime, he can be punished, but denying a ticket is seriously wrong," Chaudhary told ANI.
He also added that the police are working as per law, adding that there is no different laws for VIP and common people.
All the airlines have banned the Shiv Sena MP from boarding their flights a day after he beat an Air India staff with his slipper.
IndiGo cancelled Gaikwad's ticket for the Delhi-Pune flight, which he had booked for Friday. Later, another airline Vistara too banned the 56-year-old MP from boarding its flight. Earlier in the day, the MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra downplayed reports suggesting that Air India is considering banning him from boarding its flights.
"I have the tickets, they can't blacklist me. I will board the Delhi-Pune Air India flight this evening. How can they not allow me?" he said. "I will not apologise. It was not my fault, it was his fault. He should apologise. First ask him to apologise then we will see," Gaikwad told the media. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has sought a report to determine the facts before he decides on what happens next for Gaikwad.
Air India Duty Manager Sukumar, who was assaulted by Gaikwad, today asserted that the elected representatives need to behave in a decent manner.
"I am not scared at all, either with Gaikwad or with the Shiv Sena. I have been serving public and have also faced many who get irritated on such issues. It's a common thing for me," he added. Sukumar further said that he had requested Gaikwad to deboard the aircraft as cleaning staff had to complete their work following which he got angry.
"I had requested him (Gaikwad) to de-board the aircraft as the cleaning staff had to complete their work.
On which he got furious and raised his hands," said Sukumar. Earlier, the Centre also took cognizance of the incident and assured a thorough probe into the matter.
Source: ANI
