Now all private airlines which had also banned Gaikwad are likely to allow Gaikwad to fly.
Air India (AI) on Friday revoked the two-week-old flying ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad after the government ordered it to do so. The government gave in to Shiv Sena's pressure, and soon after the ban was lifted, the tension between the BJP and the Shiv Sena appeared to have diffused.
The Shiv Sena, a crucial ally of the ruling BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, had threatened to skip a dinner hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah on April 10. Sena sources told DNA that BJP president Amit Shah called up Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and Thackeray was "likely" to attend the NDA's April 10 meeting.
"Uddhavji may attend the meeting," a senior Sena leader told DNA on condition of anonymity. Though Air India complied with the order, its employees were of the opinion that Gaikwad should not be allowed to fly unless he renders an unconditional apology.
In fact, the Air India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) issued a statement calling Gaikwad a flight risk and stated that it would be a "crying shame" if Gaikwad is allowed to resume flying without a "rap on knuckles".
Now all private airlines which had also banned Gaikwad are likely to allow Gaikwad to fly. IndiGo, Jet, SpiceJet and GoAir are the carriers. On March 23, Gaikwad had assaulted a 60-year-old AI staffer and even tried to throw him off the plane.
The government's directive came despite the AI management conveying to the civil aviation ministry that all departments of the airlines had taken the issue personally and that Gaikwad must apologise to the airline and its employees.
The 56-year-old Osmanabad MP had on Thursday written a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju expressing "regrets" over the "unfortunate incident" but he refused to apologise to the airline or its staff.
On Thursday, Shiv Sena had threatened to stop all flights out of Mumbai and to skip the April 10 dinner unless their lawmaker is allowed to fly.
An official of the national carrier said on Friday: "On the direction of (aviation) ministry, we have lifted (the) flying ban on Gaikwad." In its letter to Air India, the ministry said: "In view of the apology rendered by Shri Gaikwad and the undertaking of good conduct by him, Air India and other airlines are advised to lift the ban imposed on him for air travel."
The aviation ministry's move came after several rounds of meetings AI Chief Managing Director Ashwani Lohani had with both aviation ministers — AG Raju and Jayant Sinha — in which the CMD made the airline's stand clear. In fact, earlier in the day, AI cancelled two tickets issued to Gaikwad – on the Delhi- Mumbai sector on April 17 and the Mumbai-Delhi route on April 24.
After lifting the ban, an AI spokesperson said: "Air India will ensure its employees are not assaulted, misbehaved with; will take action to preserve dignity of employees."
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 "Ravindra Gaikwad")
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