Air India blacklists Shiv Sena MP for thrashing staffer with slippers

New Delhi: The Air India on Thursday blacklisted Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad after he thrashed a staffer of the airlines with his slippers for being made to travel in the economy class despite having the business class ticket.

Informing about the same, Delhi Airport Manager Harinder Singh said that the staffer was highly agitated over the incident and thus the government airlines has blacklisted the Shiv Sena MP.

Taking cognizance of the disgraceful incident, Shiv Sena has sought clarification over the incident from Gaikwad.

"The party has sought an explanation from Gaikwad over the incident. The Sena does not condone violence of any kind," said Harshal Pradhan, media adviser to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

"We have also sought a version of the incident from the Air India (AI) staffer. The Sena has a workers' union in Air India," he said.

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Earlier in the day, Gaikwad penned a letter to Civil Aviation Minsiter Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, narrating the problems he suffered in the flight.

Blaming Air India of misleading him, Gaikwad said, "If the business class was unavailable in the flight, then why the Air India was booking flight for it. When It complained to Delhi Airport about the problem, their staff members started misbehaving with me saying that they had seen many MPs like me. They even threatened me to complain to the Prime Minister," said Gaikwad in his letter.

He also pointed out the problems faced in the flight saying that it was not well maintained and even the TV, towel and tissue papers were unavailable for the passengers.

Questioning the mismanagement of timing of flights, he claimed that these were the reasons why the national carrier was consistently incurring losses, while the other private flights were earning good. He also sought for a probe of his entire tussle with the Air India officials.

The Air India has registered two FIRs in the matter against Gaikwad – first for thrashing Air India staffer with his slipper over sitting issue and second for forcibly delaying the flight for over 40 minutes. After the incident, the Air India is also preparing a no-fly list of unruly passengers.

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Gaikwad proudly accepted hitting the Air India staff member with his slipper saying, "Yes, I had hit the staff. Do you expect me to hear their abuses quietly? What should have I done? He first misbehaved with me."

The Air India staffer, who was hit by the Shiv Sena MP, claimed that Gaikwad hit him, used foul language and humiliated him in front of the entire crew.

"When I told him what he is asking isn't possible, he became abusive and started using foul language. God save our country if this is the culture and behaviour of our MPs," the Air India staffer said.

It may be mentioned that Ravindra gaikwad was travelling from Pune to New Delhi when the brawl erupted over the sitting arrangement.