The normally exuberant MP finally held his tongue.
After being barred by all the airlines, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who assaulted Air India staff member took a train to Mumbai on Friday. Air India and six private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP from flying as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage. IndiGo cancelled Gaikwad's ticket for the Delhi-Pune flight, which he had booked for Friday.
Later, another airline Vistara too banned the 56-year-old MP from boarding its flight. The press caught up with him in Kota and the normally exuberant Sena MP refused to say much saying that he’d let Uddhav Thackeray or Anil Desai speak for him.
Earlier in the day, the MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra downplayed reports suggesting that Air India is considering banning him from boarding its flights. "I have the tickets, they can't blacklist me. I will board the Delhi-Pune Air India flight this evening. How can they not allow me?" he said. "I will not apologise. It was not my fault, it was his fault. He should apologise. First ask him to apologise then we will see," Gaikwad told the media.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has sought a report to determine the facts before he decides on what happens next for Gaikwad. Air India Duty Manager Sukumar, who was assaulted by Gaikwad, today asserted that the elected representatives need to behave in a decent manner.
"I am not scared at all, either with Gaikwad or with the Shiv Sena. I have been serving public and have also faced many who get irritated on such issues. It's a common thing for me," he added. Sukumar further said that he had requested Gaikwad to deboard the aircraft as cleaning staff had to complete their work following which he got angry.
"I had requested him (Gaikwad) to de-board the aircraft as the cleaning staff had to complete their work. On which he got furious and raised his hands," said Sukumar.
Earlier, the Centre also took cognizance of the incident and assured a thorough probe into the matter.
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 "Ravindra Gaikwad")
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