New Delhi: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad assaulted an Air India staffer after he was forced to travel economy class though he had an open business class ticket, official sources said on Thursday.
An FIR has been lodged by Air India in this incident. Air India is also examining the creation of no fly list of unruly passengers on the lines of other carriers.
The incident happened when flight AI852 from Pune landed at New Delhi airport around 10.30 a.m. on Thursday.
Apparently nursing a grouse, Gaikwad - who represents Osmanabad (Maharashtra) in Lok Sabha - refused to get off the flight, causing inconvenience to other passengers and crew on board.
God save our country if this is the culture & behavior of our MPs: AI Staff who was assulted by Shiv Sena MP R.Gaikwad in complaint letter— ANI (@ANI_news) March 23, 2017
Justifying his act, Gaikwad said, “Yes I hit him, he misbehaved with me. I had paid for a business class ticket. This is not the first time it has happened."
"I have complained several times but no action has been taken. So this time I lost my cool," he further added.
Sukumar, the Air India staffer hit by the Sena MP, alleged that not only Gaikwad not broke his spectacles but humiliated him in front of the whole crew.
Yes he misbehaved with me,broke my glasses. I never expected this: Sukumar,Air India staff member beaten up by Shiv Sena MP R Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/FbJmFDtPNK— ANI (@ANI_news) March 23, 2017
Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, taking note of the incident, told CNN-News18: "This is wrong and shouldn't have happened."
Air India sent some officials to enquire the matter and learnt that he was forced to travel economy class though he held an open executive class ticket.
Upon landing, when the staff requested the MP to leave the aircraft, Gaikwad reportedly flared up and assaulted them with his slipper, the sources said.
The sources said the flight was operated by an old ATR aircraft which has only economy class configuration. So he could not have been allotted a business class seat.
Air India has set up a panel to probe the incident before taking any further steps.
Former Air India executive director and aviation expert Jitendra Bhargava condemned attack on the Air India staffer.
When I told him what he's asking isn't possible he(Shiv Sena MP R.Gaikwad)became abusive, used foul language:AI staff who was hit by Gaikwad— ANI (@ANI_news) March 23, 2017
"This is how Shiv Sena members generally behave. Slapping a person with slipper is a criminal act," says Former Air India executive director and aviation expert Jitendra Bhargava.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena party spokesperson Manisha Kayande said, "Whatever happened was very unfortunate. We will speak to him and will try to find out what went wrong. The matter will be taken up by our party chief Uddhav Thackeray."
BJP leader Shaina NC said, “Such act should be condemned. One should not take law in their hand. The unfortunate part is the MP is unapologetic."
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said an FIR should be registered against the MP so that his followers do not take his behaviour as an example.
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