The Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on Thursday threatened to disrupt flight operations from Mumbai and Pune airports over the flying ban on its member of Parliament Ravindra Gaikwad by airlines.
The party also declared it would not attend the April 10 meeting of the NDA, if the ban was not lifted.
State-run carrier Air India placed Gaikwad, Lok Sabha member from Osmanabad, on its no-fly list last month after he beat up an employee with slippers. Subsequently, some private airlines also banned him from flying by their aircraft.
Sena MPs issued the threats after creating a ruckus in the Lok Sabha in the afternoon. Some of the Sena members, led by Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete, charged at Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju when he stood his ground on the ban on Gaikwad.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other ministers rushed to save Raju, a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP. The home minister also assured that an amicable solution would soon be found. The incident resulted in a face-off between two NDA allies — the Shiv Sena and the TDP. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu slammed Sena MPs for their conduct.
Gaikwad said in the Lok Sabha that he was willing to offer a conditional apology, but claimed he was provoked to hit the Air India official as the man had made derogatory remarks against lawmakers in general. Later, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan held a series of meetings, including with TDP and Sena members.
Addressing a press conference, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said it was harsh that Gaikwad was booked under Indian Penal Code section 308, which relates to attempt to murder. Raut said at best Gaikwad should have been booked under sections relating to simple assault. He said the entire episode was a conspiracy against the party and it would expose those behind it.
Meanwhile, Air India sources said that in view of the Sena threat, the airline was stepping up security of its staff deployed at Mumbai and Pune airports. Some Air India employees unions in the two cities are affiliated to the Shiv Sena’s trade union, Bharatiya Kamgar Sangh.