Shiv Sena seeks action against airlines, minister cites DGCA norms
NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena MPs of the Lok Sabha on Monday gave notice for a privilege motion against two airlines, including state carrier Air India, for imposing travel ban on party MP Ravindra Gaikwad, after he reportedly slapped an AI staff, and sought lifting of the ban.
However, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju responded by saying that airlines have the right to deny entries to unruly passengers as per guidelines framed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Raising the issue, Shiv Sena floor leader Anand Adsul said “all airlines have blacklisted him (Gaikwad). If all airlines ban him, it is not good. Banning him like this is not fair. We condemn the ban...hope you direct the government to lift the ban,” he said.
Adsul then sought to compare the incident with that of TV comedian Kapil Sharma, who slapped his team members on board an airline recently. “A similar incident happened with comedian Kapil Sharma, but in his case only an inquiry is going on, whereas in this case, an MP has been banned. I request the civil aviation minister to take action on this,” Adsul said.
Raju said “the rule is not about just an MP. In my wildest dreams, I never expected an MP to get caught in this. An MP is also a passenger. We can’t have unequal treatment of people of different classes. We have to keep safety in mind, we cannot compromise.” He referred to the DGCA guidelines to underscore how airlines could blacklist unruly passengers.
Though no other parties supported Sena’s case and though some Congress and Left members tried to disprove the behaviour of Gaikwad, it seemed the political class was not ready to isolate the Sena MP on the issue. It remains to be seen how the airlines will respond to the counterattack by the Shiv Sena, which has trade unions of airport and airlines staff in Mumbai.
However, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju responded by saying that airlines have the right to deny entries to unruly passengers as per guidelines framed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Raising the issue, Shiv Sena floor leader Anand Adsul said “all airlines have blacklisted him (Gaikwad). If all airlines ban him, it is not good. Banning him like this is not fair. We condemn the ban...hope you direct the government to lift the ban,” he said.
Adsul then sought to compare the incident with that of TV comedian Kapil Sharma, who slapped his team members on board an airline recently. “A similar incident happened with comedian Kapil Sharma, but in his case only an inquiry is going on, whereas in this case, an MP has been banned. I request the civil aviation minister to take action on this,” Adsul said.
Raju said “the rule is not about just an MP. In my wildest dreams, I never expected an MP to get caught in this. An MP is also a passenger. We can’t have unequal treatment of people of different classes. We have to keep safety in mind, we cannot compromise.” He referred to the DGCA guidelines to underscore how airlines could blacklist unruly passengers.
Though no other parties supported Sena’s case and though some Congress and Left members tried to disprove the behaviour of Gaikwad, it seemed the political class was not ready to isolate the Sena MP on the issue. It remains to be seen how the airlines will respond to the counterattack by the Shiv Sena, which has trade unions of airport and airlines staff in Mumbai.
