Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad can now fly again. Air India has revoked the ban against the Osmanabad MP who was barred from flying last month for thrashing a flight official after an argument over business class seat. The MP was in the eye of storm for beating the official and later bragging about it before media.
“I hit him with my slipper 25 times,” he had boasted on camera. Gaikwad’s name was taken off the banned list after The Civil Aviation ministry wrote to the airline asking that the parliamentarian be allowed to fly immediately. However, it’s not clear whether other airliners have follow suit the orders.
Gaikwad was barred from flying on March 24 by Air India, later the Federation of Indian Airlines, an industry body representing India’s scheduled airline carriers, has blacklisted Gaikwad.
On Thursday, Gaikwad expressed regret over the incident. He has, however, refused to apologise to the Air India staffer and demanded action against the Air India employees.
In his letter to civil aviation minister Gajapathi Raju, Gaikwad said, “I wish to convey my regrets for the unfortunate incident that took place on 23rd March… It could have been no one’s intention to let the situation aggravate to the level that it eventually did.”
The government’s decision seems to have not gone down well with the Twitteratis as they are slamming the Centre for relenting to Shiv Sena’s Goondaism.
.@CNNnews18 Knew BJP would succumb to ShivSena & would lift ban on Goon #Gaikwad Whether GauTerror or #GaikwadGiri BJP doesn’t care about RuleOfLaw
— Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) April 7, 2017
Wow. Terrific signal from the government to the common man. https://t.co/AAClyXotOY
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 7, 2017
I don’t blame @airindiain . I blame the government for not arresting him https://t.co/lkzCVsVsJl
— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) April 7, 2017
@ANI_news A victory for VIP culture and goondaism! But the way this issue was discussed nationally, sets a good precedent for the future!
— Adhish Raj Sahrawat (@lazyARS) April 7, 2017
@ANI_news People power lost to VIP power #Goongaikwad #AirIndia
— MODIfied & YOGIfied (@SeCoolar_Right) April 7, 2017
@ANI_news pic.twitter.com/7obXN2O5rT
— Venkat (@TestTubeBaba) April 7, 2017
@ANI_news I too want to be politician!!! Its good profession, even goons are respected, cheaters are honoured, illiterates are facilitated..what else?
— Rahul Singh (@rahulbsingh0) April 7, 2017
The incident took place on March 23 at national capital’s Indira Gandhi International airport on Air India flight AI 852 after it reached the national capital from Pune. Gaikwad got into an argument with 61-year-old Surendra Kundu, over not being given a business class seat, despite having a ticket for the same.
