MP Ravindra Gaikwad not at fault for hitting Air India staff: Shiv Sena

MUMBAI CITY NEWS: Harshal Pradhan, Uddhav Thackeray’s aide, said, “Gaikwad was not at fault and so he was not asked to appear before a disciplinary committee.”

Two months after Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad assaulted a 62-year-old Air India employee, the party on Tuesday maintained that no action would be taken against him.

On March 23, Gaikwad, who boarded an Air India flight from Pune to New Delhi with a business class ticket, was peeved as the flight was an all-economy one. (HT)

Harshal Pradhan, media advisor to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, said, “Gaikwad was not at fault and so he was not asked to appear before a disciplinary committee.”

Speaking to HT from his hometown in Osmanabad district, the Sena lawmaker said that the party supported him and did not initiate any action against him.

“I was never summoned before any committee. I have not done anything wrong. After the incident I came to Lok Sabha, participated in two questions and also wrote to the [Lok Sabha] Speaker. Air India approached the media saying that I quarrelled for a seat and beat up their staff,” Gaikwad told HT.

On March 23, Gaikwad, who boarded an Air India flight from Pune to New Delhi with a business class ticket, was peeved as the flight was an all-economy one. After reaching New Delhi, Gaikwad refused to get off the plane and had a verbal spat with an AI employee during which the MP admitted to having hit him 25 times with his slipper.

Gaikwad claimed that he assaulted the man because he had misbehaved with him.

Following the incident, senior Shiv Sena leaders said that Gaikwad would be presented before a three-member disciplinary committee. They later backtracked.

The only action against Gaikwad apparently came in the form of an alleged dressing down from Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The row also prompted the government to propose rules for a national no-fly list to crack down on ill-behaved passengers who often abuse and bully staff for convenience.