Air India-Ravindra Gaikwad row: Won't attend NDA meet if ban on MP not revoked, warns Shiv Sena

New Delhi: The Shiv Sena on Thursday warned that it won't not attend the April 10 NDA meeting if the flying ban on its MP Ravindra Gaikwad, imposed by domestic airlines after he beat up an Air India officer, is not revoked.

However, the sources claimed that the travel ban on the Sena MP is likely to be revoked today.

Addressing a news conference, party MP Sanjay Raut said there has been a conspiracy behind the ban and the party will expose it at an appropriate time.

"We will not attend the NDA meeting on April 10 if the travel ban on Gaikwad is not revoked," Raut said, noting that this is an "instruction from party chief Uddhav Thackeray".

Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha witnessed chaos as Shiv Sena members, including Union Minister Anant Geete, surrounded Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju after he refused to heed to their demand for revoking the flying ban. 

Intervening in the matter, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today said that the matter cannot be solved in the Parliament, adding that both Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad and the Air India must sit together and come out with a solution.

"Getting angry is normal so I had to adjourn the House. This matter cannot be solved in the session. Both the sides have to sit and talk and come up with a solution," Mahajan told the media here.

She added that Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the ban happened according to law which is same for all.

"So, everybody was a bit angry with this because everybody thought he would say something that the matter will be considered," she said.

The Shiv Sena MPs earlier in the day surrounded Raju over the flying ban on Gaikwad and threatened that unless it is lifted they "won't allow the airlines to fly from Mumbai".

Gaikwad, who was banned from flying after he assaulted an Air India staff, said that he had been provoked and alleged that the airlines staff misbehaved with him.

Speaking on the issue during Zero Hour Gaikwad demanded that the flying ban on him be lifted.

He got support from other opposition parties. 

The Shiv Sena MP also said that he can apologise to Parliament but will not apologise to the airline staffer. 

With ANI inputs