Say Sorry to Parliament, Not AI Staffer: Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad

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.

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

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.

Shiv Sena and BJP members could even be heard saying in Parliament



that they won't let flights take off from Mumbai.

Later, Rajnath Singh said Raju will talk to all stakeholders to arrive at an amicable solution to the issue at the earliest.

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.

Meanwhile,  the Air India management has been asked to increase security at all airports in Maharashtra in anticipation of a backlash over the Gaikwad issue.