Ravindra Gaikwad-Air India row: Shiv Sena to bring privilege motion; calls for bandh in Osmanabad

Having refused to take any action against its 'erring' MP Ravindra Gaikwad who is facing criticism for allegedly assaulting an Air India staffer, the Shiv Sena is set to bring a privilege motion in Parliament against airlines for putting him in the no-fly list.

New Delhi: Having refused to take any action against its 'erring'  MP Ravindra Gaikwad who is facing severe criticism for allegedly assaulting an Air India staffer, the Shiv Sena is set to bring a privilege motion in Parliament against major airlines for putting him in the no-fly list.

 All airlines banning him (Gaikwad) is not right, we will raise it in both houses and in Zero Hour too, said Anandrao Adsul, Shiv Sena.

All airlines banning him (Ravindra Gaikwad) is not right, will raise it in both houses and in zero hour too: Anandrao Adsul, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/Kk6CA1wOUS

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 27, 2017

The Maharashtra-based party has also called for a bandh in Osmanabad which Ravindra Gaikwad represents in Parliament.

Shiv Sena supporters also held a bike rally in Maharashtra's Omerga in support of their party MP Ravindra Gaikwad.

Shiv Sena supporters hold bike rally in Maharashtra's Omerga in support of party MP Ravindra Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/rrmC62fLVo

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 27, 2017

Shiv Sena had earlier claimed that several political parties, including the BJP, are supporting it in Gaikwad's case and it will raise the matter in Lok Sabha against all the airline carriers for banning him.

Gaikwad had made headlines after he abused and assaulted a 60-year-old duty manager of the national carrier with his slippers, venting his anger after he was denied business class seat on a Pune-New Delhi Air India flight on Thursday.

Air India and five private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP for Maharashtra’s Osmanabad from flying as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered a nationwide outrage.

Air India cancelled the MP's return ticket to Mumbai for the 4.15 pm flight on Friday, however Gaikwad booked an IndiGo flight through an agent.

The private airline too cancelled the booking, forcing him to take the August Kranti Express, which left for Mumbai from Hazrat Nizamuddin station in the national capital at 4.50 pm on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered two FIRs against Gaikwad culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 

Gaikwad faces arrest after the FIRs were lodged. 

Hitting out at Air India for blacklisting “unruly” Gaikwad, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut said the AI "needs to introspect" and should mull "what would happen if the public decides to blacklist the airline".