High drama in RS as Sena threats fly over flight ban

Curb may be lifted as Gaikwad regrets AI episode

Decks for embattled Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad to fly again are expected to be cleared after he sent a letter of regret to civil aviation minister Gajapathi Raju for the alleged assault of an Air India employee last month.

The Sena MP was banned from flying by most airlines after he allegedly beat up 60-year-old AI staffer R. Sukumar with slippers over being unable to travel business class on an all-economy flight.

But the regret letter came only after Sena’s MPs — NDA’s ally at the Centre — caused a pandemonium in Parliament and Mr Gaikwad’s defiant speech in the Lok Sabha where he denied attacking any AI employee, and tried to play the victim.

Frenzied Sena MPs, including Union minister Anant Geete, didn’t just create a ruckus but also gheraoed civil aviation minister Gajapathi Raju after he made it clear that there would be “no preferential treatment” for the Sena MP.

The Sena, in turn, threatened to boycott the NDA’s April 10 meeting if the flying ban was not lifted.

Sensing that the civil aviation minister and the Centre were in no mood to budge, Mr Gaikwad, who attended Parliament for the first time after the alleged assault, was constrained to plead with the minister to lift the ban.

“I write to convey my regrets for the unfortunate incident that took place on March 23 on Air India flight AI 852...”, he wrote

In your flights, separatists, terrorists, Pakistani artists, rapists can fly, but not Gaikwad. Who does the CMD (top boss) of Air India think he is?

—Sanjay Raut, Sena leader MPs cannot fulfil their duties if there is ban on flying… the matter should be resolved amicably — Sumitra Mahajan, LS Speaker Gandhi was thrown out of a train, Modi was denied visa by US. Similarly I am not allowed to fly. — Ravindra Gaikwad, Sena MP