<p>Video footage has surfaced of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad&#39;s attack on an Air India staffer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I hit him 25 times,&quot; Gaikwad had said Thursday.</p>

<p>&quot;I hit him with my sandal,&quot; he had said. (Watch video below.)</p>

<p>The Air India staff member -- Sukumar Raman -- is 60 years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;God save our country if this is the culture of our politicans and MPs,&quot; Raman had written in his complaint. (One can&#39;t help but agree with him.)&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raman had been trying to get Gaikwad to deplane.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">WATCH: Unedited footage of Shiv Sena MP R Gaikwad roughing up Air India staff (NOTE: STRONG LANGUAGE) <a href="https://t.co/idFr8MpUTo">pic.twitter.com/idFr8MpUTo</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/844959966205263872">March 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Gaikwad was refusing to do so because he had not been seated in the business section of the Pune to Delhi flight.</p>

<p>How he could have been seated in the business section is impossible to understand -- it was an all-economy flight!</p>

<p>Which is what Sukumar had presumably been trying to explain to him.</p>

<p>The airline say it had warned the MP in advance that it was an all-economy flight.</p>

<p>And to make him feel special, it had seated him in the first row.</p>

<p>But none of it was good enough for Gaikwad. (Watch video below.)</p>

<p>&quot;Don&#39;t don&#39;t don&#39;t do that,&quot; an air hostess can be heard screaming at Gaikwad, as other people try and restrain Gaikwad.</p>

<p>&quot;Bade badtameez log hain,&quot; a person can be heard saying. He is presumably talking about Gaikwad. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Another person is heard using a cuss word, sotto voce, against Gaikwad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, the air hostess -- really, the one person who reaffirms our faith in being Indian -- is seen talking to Gaikwad.</p>

<p>&quot;You&#39;re a role model no?&quot; she says to him.</p>

<p>&quot;This will become a murder case (if you continue beating him),&quot; she says.</p>

<p>&quot;Let it become one,&quot; says Gaikwad. &quot;I have many cases against me.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>He has so far refused to apologise for his abominable behaviour.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Shiv Sena MP R.Gaikwad who assaulted AI Staff says, &quot;won&#39;t apologise,not my mistake. Vo (victim) pehle maafi mange fir dekhenge.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/T8IwCaNsmO">pic.twitter.com/T8IwCaNsmO</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845145333197762561">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>(WION)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


'I hit him 25 times, Ravindra Gaikwad had said Thursday. He has so far refused to apologise

Video footage has surfaced of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad's attack on an Air India staffer. "I hit him 25 times," Gaikwad had said Thursday. "I hit him with my sandal," he had said. (Watch video below.) The Air India staff member -- Sukumar Raman -- is 60 years old. "God save our country if this is the culture of our politicans and MPs," Raman had written in his complaint. (One can't help but agree with him.) Raman had been trying to get Gaikwad to deplane. WATCH: Unedited footage of Shiv Sena MP R Gaikwad roughing up Air India staff (NOTE: STRONG LANGUAGE) pic.twitter.com/idFr8MpUTo — ANI (@ANI_news) March 23, 2017 × Gaikwad was refusing to do so because he had not been seated in the business section of the Pune to Delhi flight. How he could have been seated in the business section is impossible to understand -- it was an all-economy flight! Which is what Sukumar had presumably been trying to explain to him. The airline say it had warned the MP in advance that it was an all-economy flight. And to make him feel special, it had seated him in the first row. But none of it was good enough for Gaikwad. (Watch video below.) "Don't don't don't do that," an air hostess can be heard screaming at Gaikwad, as other people try and restrain Gaikwad. "Bade badtameez log hain," a person can be heard saying. He is presumably talking about Gaikwad. Another person is heard using a cuss word, sotto voce, against Gaikwad. Later, the air hostess -- really, the one person who reaffirms our faith in being Indian -- is seen talking to Gaikwad. "You're a role model no?" she says to him. "This will become a murder case (if you continue beating him)," she says. "Let it become one," says Gaikwad. "I have many cases against me." He has so far refused to apologise for his abominable behaviour. #WATCH: Shiv Sena MP R.Gaikwad who assaulted AI Staff says, "won't apologise,not my mistake. Vo (victim) pehle maafi mange fir dekhenge." pic.twitter.com/T8IwCaNsmO — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × (WION)

WATCH: Shiv Sena MP beats 60-year-old Air India staffer

<p>Minister of State (MoS) for civil aviation Jayant Sinha has decided to issue a national no-fly list in the first week of July after the controversy over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indigo-airindia-bar-tdp-mp-diwakar-reddy-from-flights-after-ruckus-at-vizag-airport-16877">TDP MP J C Diwakar Reddy</a> &amp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/air-india-lifts-flight-ban-on-shiv-sena-mp-ravindra-gaikwad-report-14286">Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who were denied boarding rights</a> by various airlines for creating a ruckus on board.</p>

<p>&quot;A national no-fly list rules is currently being prepared and will be issued&nbsp;in first week of July,&quot; Sinha said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ministry of civil aviation had last month issued draft rules for a national no-fly list and invited stakeholders&#39; comments within&nbsp;30 days.</p>

<p>&quot;The process is underway right now, as we have said many times we are going through an analysis process and those recommendations are in front of the Cabinet right now and the Cabinet will take the process forward,&quot; Jayant Sinha added.</p>

<p>Jayant Sinha also said his ministry is working to create a &quot;unified security command&quot; to manage airports in the country which would be handled by the Central Industrial Security Force(CISF).</p>

<p>&quot;We want a unified command to be able to keep all of the airports under supervision through a robust set of security protocols. So unified security architecture is a major policy initiative that we have embarked on with the ministry of home affairs,&#39;&#39; said Jayant Sinha.</p>

<p>Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai &amp; Kolkata are amongst the busiest airports in India, there is a sizeable CISF presence already in these airports, however, with a unified structure in place, the CISF would be expected to take over the entire security and other administrative duties linked with airport security in the country.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The ministry of civil aviation had last month issued its draft rules for a national no-fly list

Minister of State (MoS) for civil aviation Jayant Sinha has decided to issue a national no-fly list in the first week of July after the controversy over TDP MP J C Diwakar Reddy & Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who were denied boarding rights by various airlines for creating a ruckus on board. "A national no-fly list rules is currently being prepared and will be issued in first week of July," Sinha said. The ministry of civil aviation had last month issued draft rules for a national no-fly list and invited stakeholders' comments within 30 days. "The process is underway right now, as we have said many times we are going through an analysis process and those recommendations are in front of the Cabinet right now and the Cabinet will take the process forward," Jayant Sinha added. Jayant Sinha also said his ministry is working to create a "unified security command" to manage airports in the country which would be handled by the Central Industrial Security Force(CISF). "We want a unified command to be able to keep all of the airports under supervision through a robust set of security protocols. So unified security architecture is a major policy initiative that we have embarked on with the ministry of home affairs,'' said Jayant Sinha. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai & Kolkata are amongst the busiest airports in India, there is a sizeable CISF presence already in these airports, however, with a unified structure in place, the CISF would be expected to take over the entire security and other administrative duties linked with airport security in the country.

National no-fly rule to be out in July: Civil aviation minister Jayant Sinha

<p>India has laid down fresh rules to tackle unruly passengers on either a flight or at the airport.</p>

<p>India&#39;s civil aviation ministry has three levels of offences, which include suspension for two months to two years or more.</p>

<p>If a flyer is put on the &quot;no-fly list&quot;, that person will not even be allowed to book a plane ticket.</p>

<p>Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the rules will be implemented from June after receiving public feedback.</p>

<p>Level 1 offence: A flyer will be suspended for two months for &quot;disruptive behaviour&quot; such as physical gesture.</p>

<p>Level 2 offence: A passenger will be prohibited from flying for six months if found guilty of &quot;physically abusive behaviour&quot; like pushing, kicking and sexual harassment.</p>

<p>Level 3 offence: A person will be barred for two years or more if found guilty of murderous assault.</p>

<p>Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said: &quot;The punishment of suspension for unruly behaviour applies to domestic carriers. If international carriers want this input, they can use it.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fresh rules come weeks after an Indian politician Ravindra Gaikwad had assaulted an Air India manager.</p>

<p>On March 23, Gaikwad, member of right-wing Shiv Sena, had self-admittedly slapped and beaten a 62-year-old&nbsp;Air India manager after his request to fly business class was turned down.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The multi-level list was unveiled weeks after an Indian politician assaulted an airline manager

India has laid down fresh rules to tackle unruly passengers on either a flight or at the airport. India's civil aviation ministry has three levels of offences, which include suspension for two months to two years or more. If a flyer is put on the "no-fly list", that person will not even be allowed to book a plane ticket. Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the rules will be implemented from June after receiving public feedback. Level 1 offence: A flyer will be suspended for two months for "disruptive behaviour" such as physical gesture. Level 2 offence: A passenger will be prohibited from flying for six months if found guilty of "physically abusive behaviour" like pushing, kicking and sexual harassment. Level 3 offence: A person will be barred for two years or more if found guilty of murderous assault. Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said: "The punishment of suspension for unruly behaviour applies to domestic carriers. If international carriers want this input, they can use it." The fresh rules come weeks after an Indian politician Ravindra Gaikwad had assaulted an Air India manager. On March 23, Gaikwad, member of right-wing Shiv Sena, had self-admittedly slapped and beaten a 62-year-old Air India manager after his request to fly business class was turned down. (WION)

India introduces 'no-fly list' to tackle unruly flyers

<p>The Centre on Friday will announce a draft rule for a &#39;no-fly list&#39; for unruly passengers in the aftermath of the debacle surrounding Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who assaulted an Air India staffer onboard a plane.</p>

<p>The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) are being amended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to facilitate such a list, the ministry of civil aviation said in a letter to Air India CMD, making an appeal to him to lift the ban on Gaikwad.</p>

<p>The no-fly list has been amended by Air India from the day Gaikwad hit 62-year-old R Sukumar with his slipper.</p>

<p>The following day, the Federation of Indian Airlines, which has Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir as its members, made the announcement.</p>

<p>The draft will be made public by aviation minister Ashok G Raju and his deputy Jayant Sinha. For effective implementation, the Centre is likely to make some identification mandatory - either Aadhaar or passport number - while booking even domestic tickets.</p>

<p>The draft will give about a month for the public to comment. The aviation ministry will then take some time to study them and come out with the final CAR.</p>

<p>As per the IATA, in 2015, there were 10,854 reported cases of unruly behaviour by the passengers across airlines worldwide, which translate into one incident for every 1,205 flights.</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) are being amended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to facilitate such a list

The Centre on Friday will announce a draft rule for a 'no-fly list' for unruly passengers in the aftermath of the debacle surrounding Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who assaulted an Air India staffer onboard a plane. The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) are being amended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to facilitate such a list, the ministry of civil aviation said in a letter to Air India CMD, making an appeal to him to lift the ban on Gaikwad. The no-fly list has been amended by Air India from the day Gaikwad hit 62-year-old R Sukumar with his slipper. The following day, the Federation of Indian Airlines, which has Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir as its members, made the announcement. The draft will be made public by aviation minister Ashok G Raju and his deputy Jayant Sinha. For effective implementation, the Centre is likely to make some identification mandatory - either Aadhaar or passport number - while booking even domestic tickets. The draft will give about a month for the public to comment. The aviation ministry will then take some time to study them and come out with the final CAR. As per the IATA, in 2015, there were 10,854 reported cases of unruly behaviour by the passengers across airlines worldwide, which translate into one incident for every 1,205 flights. (ANI)

No-fly list: Centre to announce new rules today

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India employee, attended the Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday for the first time since the incident last month.</p>

<p>&quot;I apologise to the Parliament if I&#39;ve caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official,&quot; he said in the house.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Maine kya gunaah kiya? Mera kya apraadh hai ki jaanch ke bina media trial ho raha hai?&quot; he asked.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Maine kya gunaah kiya? Mera kya apraadh hai ki jaanch ke bina media trial ho raha hai?: Ravindra Gaikwad,Shiv Sena MP in Lok Sabha</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/849875170571497473">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I apologise to the Parliament if I&#39;ve caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official: Ravindra Gaikwad,Shiv Sena MP in Lok Sabha</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/849877110760099841">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="tl"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> Live: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad speaking in Lok Sabha <a href="https://t.co/7cYNiIVwSQ">https://t.co/7cYNiIVwSQ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/849874608585007104">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Just as the house met, Shiv Sena leader Anandrao Adsul said Gaikwad would be making a statement.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Either you allow him (to speak) now or later today, he should be allowed (to speak),&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said he can speak during zero hour but not during question hour.</p>

<p>Before Adsul spoke, Sena members raised anti-Air India slogans while Civil Aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju was answering a question.</p>

<p>&quot;Goonda raj band karo...Nyay karo, nyay karo (Stop bullying, do justice)&quot; was one of the slogans.</p>

<p>Sena leader and Union minister Ananth Geete requested the Speaker to allow Adsul to speak briefly.</p>

<p>Gaikwad, an MP from Osmanabad, had abused and assaulted a 60-year-old duty manager of Air India with slippers for not being allowed to fly business class despite having boarded an all-economy flight.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)</p>


'What is my crime?' he asked the Lok Sabha

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India employee, attended the Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday for the first time since the incident last month. "I apologise to the Parliament if I've caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official," he said in the house. "Maine kya gunaah kiya? Mera kya apraadh hai ki jaanch ke bina media trial ho raha hai?" he asked. Maine kya gunaah kiya? Mera kya apraadh hai ki jaanch ke bina media trial ho raha hai?: Ravindra Gaikwad,Shiv Sena MP in Lok Sabha — ANI (@ANI_news) April 6, 2017 × I apologise to the Parliament if I've caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official: Ravindra Gaikwad,Shiv Sena MP in Lok Sabha — ANI (@ANI_news) April 6, 2017 × #WATCH Live: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad speaking in Lok Sabha https://t.co/7cYNiIVwSQ — ANI (@ANI_news) April 6, 2017 × Just as the house met, Shiv Sena leader Anandrao Adsul said Gaikwad would be making a statement. “Either you allow him (to speak) now or later today, he should be allowed (to speak)," he said. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said he can speak during zero hour but not during question hour. Before Adsul spoke, Sena members raised anti-Air India slogans while Civil Aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju was answering a question. "Goonda raj band karo...Nyay karo, nyay karo (Stop bullying, do justice)" was one of the slogans. Sena leader and Union minister Ananth Geete requested the Speaker to allow Adsul to speak briefly. Gaikwad, an MP from Osmanabad, had abused and assaulted a 60-year-old duty manager of Air India with slippers for not being allowed to fly business class despite having boarded an all-economy flight. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad: Will apologise to Parliament, not AI staffer (he beat)

<p>Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad -- who was banned by Air India after he repeatedly beat their employee with a slipper --&nbsp;has regretted the incident in a letter to civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and requested that&nbsp;the flight ban on him be lifted.</p>

<p>A meeting between Minister of State for Aviation Jayant Sinha and Air India CMD on lifting of ban on Ravindra Gaikwad is currently underway at the Airlines House in Indian capital New Delhi.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad conveys regret to Civil Aviation Min Ashok Gajapathi Raju, requests to lift fly ban imposed on him <a href="https://t.co/L933Cn2HKq">pic.twitter.com/L933Cn2HKq</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/849987671049076736">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Air India said earlier Thursday it will&nbsp;withdraw the flight ban imposed on the Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad if he apologised,&nbsp;ANI quoted sources as saying.</p>

<p>The Shiv Sena, meanwhile, remained defiant about Ravindra Gaikwad&#39;s behaviour. Party leader Sanjay Raut called the airline the &quot;servant of the public&quot; and said Air India had no right to insult a person on social media.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="in"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> As Shiv Sena continues to back their MP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RavindraGaikwad?src=hash">#RavindraGaikwad</a>, Sanjay Raut says, &quot;Kya hai Air India? Kaun hai CMD? Kya aukat hai unki?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/bo36tomVEd">pic.twitter.com/bo36tomVEd</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/849972525195034626">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p><br />
&quot;What is Air India? Who is CMD? What is their status and where do they even stand? How can they even insult an MP so openly on social media? Who has given them this right? It is peoples&#39; servant, India&#39;s servant. If you expect us to learn to behave properly, then first you learn the same,&quot; Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said while addressing a press conference.</p>

<p>The Indian government&nbsp;said Thursday it will hold discussions with stakeholders to find an &quot;amicable solution&quot; to the stand off between the Shiv Sena and the government after the flight ban imposed on Shiv Sena legislator Ravindra Gaikwad.</p>

<p>The assurance from federal home minister Rajnath Singh came after Shiv Sena members, including Union Minister Anant Geete, surrounded civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and yelled at him during today&#39;s proceedings in the Lok Sabha.</p>

<p>Rajnath Singh said Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju will hold discussions with the stakeholders to arrive at an &quot;amicable solution&quot; at the earliest.</p>

<p>As soon as the House met at 13:15 hours after three adjournments over the issue, Rajnath Singh said the incident related to Air India was unfortunate and it would have been better if it had not happened.</p>

<p>The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the centre, threatened to boycott an NDA meeting if the flight ban on Ravindra Gaikwad was not revoked. Party sources earlier said the travel ban, imposed after the MP beat up a flight attendant, is likely to be revoked today, PTI reported.</p>

<p>Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said there has been a conspiracy behind the ban and the party will expose it at an appropriate time.</p>

<p>&quot;We will not attend the NDA meeting on April 10 if the travel ban on Gaikwad is not revoked,&quot; Raut said, noting that this is an &quot;instruction from party chief Uddhav Thackeray&quot;.</p>

<p>Ravindra Gaikwad today attended the Lok Sabha proceedings for the first time after the incident. He denied any wrongdoing on his part and instead accused Air India officials of misbehaving with him and sought action against them.</p>

<p>Gaikwad tendered an apology to Parliament but insisted that he owed no apology to the airline officials as he sought removal of the ban imposed on him by domestic airlines after he allegedly beat up an Air India officer with slippers.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad evades questions on Air India staffer assault case. <a href="https://t.co/BrLVahGqdR">pic.twitter.com/BrLVahGqdR</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/849934601984323585">April 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The civil aviation minister&nbsp;said it was up to Gaikwad to decide if he wanted to defuse the matter or aggravate it, asserting that what has happened is as per the law which will take its own course. Refusing any preferential treatment to the Sena member, he said the matter was not about an MP but a passenger.</p>

<p>&quot;Aircraft is a machine where people fly. Safety is important. Safety cannot be compromised,&quot; Raju said, apparently justifying the ban on Gaikwad.</p>

<p>Upset with Raju&#39;s brief but pointed remarks, Shiv Sena members, including Union Minister Anant Geete, surrounded the civil aviation minister after he refused to heed their demand to revoke the flying ban.</p>

<p>BJP members watched in shock as their allies hit Raju&#39;s bench in anger and did not allow him to leave.</p>

<p>Soon after, several leaders, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, tried to placate Geete and his colleagues while Raju was ushered out.</p>

<p>Ravindra Gaikwad was barred by Air India and six other domestic airlines from flying after he assaulted an Air India staffer last month.</p>

<p>Air India, meanwhile, is likely to step up security for its staff at the Mumbai and Pune airports after Shiv Sena lawmakers allegedly threatened to stall the airline&#39;s operations at the two key airports, PTI reported.</p>

<p>The Sena MPs had warned of grounding Air India operations at the two airports in Maharashtra after the party failed to get an assurance from Gajapathu Raju over lifting of the flying ban on Ravindra Gaikwad.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Air India has said it will?withdraw the flight ban imposed on the Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad if he apologises

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad -- who was banned by Air India after he repeatedly beat their employee with a slipper -- has regretted the incident in a letter to civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and requested that the flight ban on him be lifted. A meeting between Minister of State for Aviation Jayant Sinha and Air India CMD on lifting of ban on Ravindra Gaikwad is currently underway at the Airlines House in Indian capital New Delhi. Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad conveys regret to Civil Aviation Min Ashok Gajapathi Raju, requests to lift fly ban imposed on him pic.twitter.com/L933Cn2HKq — ANI (@ANI_news) April 6, 2017 × Air India said earlier Thursday it will withdraw the flight ban imposed on the Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad if he apologised, ANI quoted sources as saying. The Shiv Sena, meanwhile, remained defiant about Ravindra Gaikwad's behaviour. Party leader Sanjay Raut called the airline the "servant of the public" and said Air India had no right to insult a person on social media. #WATCH As Shiv Sena continues to back their MP #RavindraGaikwad, Sanjay Raut says, "Kya hai Air India? Kaun hai CMD? Kya aukat hai unki?" pic.twitter.com/bo36tomVEd — ANI (@ANI_news) April 6, 2017 × "What is Air India? Who is CMD? What is their status and where do they even stand? How can they even insult an MP so openly on social media? Who has given them this right? It is peoples' servant, India's servant. If you expect us to learn to behave properly, then first you learn the same," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said while addressing a press conference. The Indian government said Thursday it will hold discussions with stakeholders to find an "amicable solution" to the stand off between the Shiv Sena and the government after the flight ban imposed on Shiv Sena legislator Ravindra Gaikwad. The assurance from federal home minister Rajnath Singh came after Shiv Sena members, including Union Minister Anant Geete, surrounded civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and yelled at him during today's proceedings in the Lok Sabha. Rajnath Singh said Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju will hold discussions with the stakeholders to arrive at an "amicable solution" at the earliest. As soon as the House met at 13:15 hours after three adjournments over the issue, Rajnath Singh said the incident related to Air India was unfortunate and it would have been better if it had not happened. The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the centre, threatened to boycott an NDA meeting if the flight ban on Ravindra Gaikwad was not revoked. Party sources earlier said the travel ban, imposed after the MP beat up a flight attendant, is likely to be revoked today, PTI reported. Shiv Sena 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". Ravindra Gaikwad today attended the Lok Sabha proceedings for the first time after the incident. He denied any wrongdoing on his part and instead accused Air India officials of misbehaving with him and sought action against them. Gaikwad tendered an apology to Parliament but insisted that he owed no apology to the airline officials as he sought removal of the ban imposed on him by domestic airlines after he allegedly beat up an Air India officer with slippers. #WATCH: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad evades questions on Air India staffer assault case. pic.twitter.com/BrLVahGqdR — ANI (@ANI_news) April 6, 2017 × The civil aviation minister said it was up to Gaikwad to decide if he wanted to defuse the matter or aggravate it, asserting that what has happened is as per the law which will take its own course. Refusing any preferential treatment to the Sena member, he said the matter was not about an MP but a passenger. "Aircraft is a machine where people fly. Safety is important. Safety cannot be compromised," Raju said, apparently justifying the ban on Gaikwad. Upset with Raju's brief but pointed remarks, Shiv Sena members, including Union Minister Anant Geete, surrounded the civil aviation minister after he refused to heed their demand to revoke the flying ban. BJP members watched in shock as their allies hit Raju's bench in anger and did not allow him to leave. Soon after, several leaders, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, tried to placate Geete and his colleagues while Raju was ushered out. Ravindra Gaikwad was barred by Air India and six other domestic airlines from flying after he assaulted an Air India staffer last month. Air India, meanwhile, is likely to step up security for its staff at the Mumbai and Pune airports after Shiv Sena lawmakers allegedly threatened to stall the airline's operations at the two key airports, PTI reported. The Sena MPs had warned of grounding Air India operations at the two airports in Maharashtra after the party failed to get an assurance from Gajapathu Raju over lifting of the flying ban on Ravindra Gaikwad. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Shiv Sena MP 'regrets' unruly behaviour, requests civil aviation minister to lift flight ban

<p>The Shiv Sena Thursday&nbsp;urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to ask domestic airlines to withdraw the flying ban imposed on its MP Ravindra Gaikwad for the ongoing budget session.</p>

<p>The party said&nbsp;Gaikwad is also likely to meet the Speaker in a couple of days. Gaikwad, meanwhile, travelled by road to Delhi for the Parliament session.</p>

<p>&quot;We met the Speaker today and requested her to instruct concerned authorities to withdraw the travel ban imposed on Gaikwad for the ongoing session,&quot; said Rahul Shewale, party MP from South Central Mumbai.</p>

<p>He hoped the matter is resolved before the next session and demanded that, in the interim, the MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra who is at the centre of a row for assaulting an Air India employee, is allowed to fly during the current session of Parliament.</p>

<p>Vinayak Raut, party MP from Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri, said Gaikwad is a public representative and by banning him from flying, the airlines are hampering his legislative work.</p>

<p>&quot;It is also an injustice to people of his constituency. It is also improper to impose a blanket ban on anyone,&quot; Raut, who was the part of the delegation, said.</p>

<p>Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member, said airline companies are behaving like &quot;goons&quot; by letting terrorists take their flight but imposing restrictions on the common man.</p>

<p>&quot;What has he (Gaikwad) done? The behaviour of the airline companies is like mafia and goons.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;An FIR has been lodged against the MP. The MP has also lodged an FIR. The investigation is going on,&quot; Raut said, noting no action should have been taken against Gaikwad before investigation was complete.</p>

<p>&quot;And moreover, the FIR has been lodged and investigation is not yet complete. Who has done what will be clear only after investigation is complete. In this country, till now, dictatorship has not yet started. If they are doing it under pressure from someone, this pressure will also not work for long,&quot; he said without elaborating on who could possibly be exerting pressure on the air operators.</p>

<p>Asked whether there should be a fly ban on Gaikwad, he said, &quot;There should not be a fly ban on him. Is he a terrorist? Terrorists, underworld dons, corrupt people can fly in your airlines, but an MP, who is a common man, he would not fly.</p>

<p>(PTI)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member said airline companies were behaving like 'goons'

The Shiv Sena Thursday urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to ask domestic airlines to withdraw the flying ban imposed on its MP Ravindra Gaikwad for the ongoing budget session. The party said Gaikwad is also likely to meet the Speaker in a couple of days. Gaikwad, meanwhile, travelled by road to Delhi for the Parliament session. "We met the Speaker today and requested her to instruct concerned authorities to withdraw the travel ban imposed on Gaikwad for the ongoing session," said Rahul Shewale, party MP from South Central Mumbai. He hoped the matter is resolved before the next session and demanded that, in the interim, the MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra who is at the centre of a row for assaulting an Air India employee, is allowed to fly during the current session of Parliament. Vinayak Raut, party MP from Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri, said Gaikwad is a public representative and by banning him from flying, the airlines are hampering his legislative work. "It is also an injustice to people of his constituency. It is also improper to impose a blanket ban on anyone," Raut, who was the part of the delegation, said. Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member, said airline companies are behaving like "goons" by letting terrorists take their flight but imposing restrictions on the common man. "What has he (Gaikwad) done? The behaviour of the airline companies is like mafia and goons." "An FIR has been lodged against the MP. The MP has also lodged an FIR. The investigation is going on," Raut said, noting no action should have been taken against Gaikwad before investigation was complete. "And moreover, the FIR has been lodged and investigation is not yet complete. Who has done what will be clear only after investigation is complete. In this country, till now, dictatorship has not yet started. If they are doing it under pressure from someone, this pressure will also not work for long," he said without elaborating on who could possibly be exerting pressure on the air operators. Asked whether there should be a fly ban on Gaikwad, he said, "There should not be a fly ban on him. Is he a terrorist? Terrorists, underworld dons, corrupt people can fly in your airlines, but an MP, who is a common man, he would not fly. (PTI)

Lift airline travel ban on Ravindra Gaikwad: Shiv Sena requests Lok Sabha Speaker

<p>An Indian lawmaker, who was blacklisted by Air India for assaulting a staffer &quot;25 times&quot; with a slipper, booked a ticket on the airline only to find it cancelled.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad booked an Air India ticket from Mumbai to Delhi but Air India cancelled it (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/c6ObgNUC20">pic.twitter.com/c6ObgNUC20</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/846657524195475456">March 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ravindra Gaikwad, an MP belonging to the far right Shiv Sena, had booked the Air India ticket from Mumbai to Delhi after he was banned by Air India and five other airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir, Jet Airways and Vistara.</p>

<p>The lawmaker from Maharashtra&#39;s Osmanabad had beaten a 60-year-old Air India employee for being refused a business class berth on aircraft flying from Pune to New Delhi.</p>

<p>He was unrepentant about his behaviour, instead asking the airline and the employee to apologise first.</p>

<p>Gaikwad, however, found support from his colleagues from the Shiv Sena and legislators from the Samajwadi Party who wanted the ban to be revoked.</p>

<p>The federal government, however, condemned Gaikwad&#39;s unruly behaviour.</p>

<p>Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said: &quot;Violence of any kind can be a disaster for airlines. We have good safety regulations but never in my dreams expected an MP to be caught (doing this).&quot;<br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Gaikwad had booked the Air India ticket from Mumbai to Delhi

An Indian lawmaker, who was blacklisted by Air India for assaulting a staffer "25 times" with a slipper, booked a ticket on the airline only to find it cancelled. Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad booked an Air India ticket from Mumbai to Delhi but Air India cancelled it (file pic) pic.twitter.com/c6ObgNUC20 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 28, 2017 × Ravindra Gaikwad, an MP belonging to the far right Shiv Sena, had booked the Air India ticket from Mumbai to Delhi after he was banned by Air India and five other airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir, Jet Airways and Vistara. The lawmaker from Maharashtra's Osmanabad had beaten a 60-year-old Air India employee for being refused a business class berth on aircraft flying from Pune to New Delhi. He was unrepentant about his behaviour, instead asking the airline and the employee to apologise first. Gaikwad, however, found support from his colleagues from the Shiv Sena and legislators from the Samajwadi Party who wanted the ban to be revoked. The federal government, however, condemned Gaikwad's unruly behaviour. Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said: "Violence of any kind can be a disaster for airlines. We have good safety regulations but never in my dreams expected an MP to be caught (doing this)." (WION with inputs from agencies)

Shiv Sena lawmaker Ravindra Gaikwad books flight ticket, Air India cancels it

<p>Asserting that Air India was trying to misguide everyone as to what actually caused the altercation onboard the aircraft, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad stated that he had never demanded a Business Class seat, but had instead requested a complaint book to address his grievance about `substandard service`.</p>

<p>Issuing a fresh statement, the MP said that while travelling in the flight, he noticed &quot;carelessness and substandard&quot; service of Air India and requested for a complaint book, but despite his frequent requests he was not provided the complaint book, instead the staffer misbehaved with him.</p>

<p>&quot;I was demanding proper facilities not the business class seat. But just to hide their careless attitude and cheating towards lakhs of Air India passengers, they tried to create a picture that I was continuously demanding for business class seat. This is completely baseless,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Gaikwad on Friday submitted a complaint against Air India before the Delhi Police alleging that he was pushed and yelled on.</p>

<p>In his complaint, Gaikwad, who allegedly manhandled Air India staffer, said he was made to travel by Air India on economy class even as he had business class ticket.</p>

<p>The Shiv Sena is also likely to bring a privilege motion in the Parliament over the issue of Gaikwad being put in `no fly list` of all airlines.</p>

<p>Air India and six private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP from flying as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage.</p>

<p>Anandrao Adsul of the Shiv Sena raised the issue of the ban imposed on R Gaikwad by airlines in Lok Sabha, saying &quot;I hope you (Speaker) will raise it with government&quot;.</p>

<p>The Osmanabad MP after being blacklisted by the top airlines boarded a train to Mumbai earlier on Friday evening.</p>

<p>Asserting that all MPs need to attend Parliament diligently and cannot always travel by train, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan today called for resolving the issue of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaekwad`s `flying ban` by several airlines through amicable talks.</p>

<p>&quot;MPs need to attend Parliament and they cannot travel by train always. At times, they need to travel by plane also. I feel that this issue (blanket ban) should be resolved amicably through talks,&quot; said Mahajan after a meeting attended by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Sena MPs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(ANI)&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


He claims he had not demanded a business class seat, had instead asked for a complaint book

Asserting that Air India was trying to misguide everyone as to what actually caused the altercation onboard the aircraft, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad stated that he had never demanded a Business Class seat, but had instead requested a complaint book to address his grievance about `substandard service`. Issuing a fresh statement, the MP said that while travelling in the flight, he noticed "carelessness and substandard" service of Air India and requested for a complaint book, but despite his frequent requests he was not provided the complaint book, instead the staffer misbehaved with him. "I was demanding proper facilities not the business class seat. But just to hide their careless attitude and cheating towards lakhs of Air India passengers, they tried to create a picture that I was continuously demanding for business class seat. This is completely baseless," he said. Gaikwad on Friday submitted a complaint against Air India before the Delhi Police alleging that he was pushed and yelled on. In his complaint, Gaikwad, who allegedly manhandled Air India staffer, said he was made to travel by Air India on economy class even as he had business class ticket. The Shiv Sena is also likely to bring a privilege motion in the Parliament over the issue of Gaikwad being put in `no fly list` of all airlines. Air India and six private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP from flying as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage. Anandrao Adsul of the Shiv Sena raised the issue of the ban imposed on R Gaikwad by airlines in Lok Sabha, saying "I hope you (Speaker) will raise it with government". The Osmanabad MP after being blacklisted by the top airlines boarded a train to Mumbai earlier on Friday evening. Asserting that all MPs need to attend Parliament diligently and cannot always travel by train, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan today called for resolving the issue of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaekwad`s `flying ban` by several airlines through amicable talks. "MPs need to attend Parliament and they cannot travel by train always. At times, they need to travel by plane also. I feel that this issue (blanket ban) should be resolved amicably through talks," said Mahajan after a meeting attended by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Sena MPs. (ANI)

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad speaks afresh, says same old thing

<p>The Shiv Sena has given a shutdown call in Maharashtra&#39;s Osmanabad in support of MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India employee on flight.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena is likely to bring privilege motion in the Parliament today over the issue of Gaikwad being put in &#39;no fly list&#39; of all airlines.</p>

<p>Air India and six private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP from flying as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage.</p>

<p>The MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra had earlier downplayed reports suggesting that Air India is considering banning him from boarding its flights.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Maharashtra: Shiv Sena gives a shutdown call in Osmanabad in support of Ravindra Gaikwad. He had assaulted an Air India employee on flight. <a href="https://t.co/nwQau7vRHn">pic.twitter.com/nwQau7vRHn</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/846203346532782080">March 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">All airlines banning him (Ravindra Gaikwad) is not right, will raise it in both houses and in zero hour too: Anandrao Adsul, Shiv Sena <a href="https://t.co/Kk6CA1wOUS">pic.twitter.com/Kk6CA1wOUS</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/846223562235105283">March 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&quot;I have the tickets, they can&#39;t blacklist me. I will board the Delhi-Pune Air India flight this evening. How can they not allow me?&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;I will not apologise. It was not my fault, it was his fault. He should apologise. First ask him to apologise then we will see,&quot; Gaikwad told the media.</p>

<p>Sukumar, who was assaulted by Gaikwad, asserted that the elected representatives need to behave in a decent manner.</p>

<p>&quot;I am not scared at all, either with Gaikwad or with the Shiv Sena. I have been serving public and have also faced many who get irritated on such issues. It&#39;s a common thing for me,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Earlier, the Centre also took cognizance of the incident and assured a thorough probe into the matter. &nbsp;</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


Osmanabad is Ravindra Gaikwad's constituency

The Shiv Sena has given a shutdown call in Maharashtra's Osmanabad in support of MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India employee on flight. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena is likely to bring privilege motion in the Parliament today over the issue of Gaikwad being put in 'no fly list' of all airlines. Air India and six private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP from flying as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage. The MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra had earlier downplayed reports suggesting that Air India is considering banning him from boarding its flights. Maharashtra: Shiv Sena gives a shutdown call in Osmanabad in support of Ravindra Gaikwad. He had assaulted an Air India employee on flight. pic.twitter.com/nwQau7vRHn — ANI (@ANI_news) March 27, 2017 × 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 × "I have the tickets, they can't blacklist me. I will board the Delhi-Pune Air India flight this evening. How can they not allow me?" he said. "I will not apologise. It was not my fault, it was his fault. He should apologise. First ask him to apologise then we will see," Gaikwad told the media. Sukumar, who was assaulted by Gaikwad, asserted that the elected representatives need to behave in a decent manner. "I am not scared at all, either with Gaikwad or with the Shiv Sena. I have been serving public and have also faced many who get irritated on such issues. It's a common thing for me," he added. Earlier, the Centre also took cognizance of the incident and assured a thorough probe into the matter. (ANI)

In support of MP who beat AI staffer, Shiv Sena shuts down Osmanabad

<p>The Indian lawmaker, who had been barred by five airlines for assaulting an airline employee, had to take the train to travel from New Delhi to Mumbai on Friday night.</p>

<p>Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad boarded the August Kranti Express from New Delhi&#39;s Hazrat Nizamuddin station, according to a senior Railway Ministry official.</p>

<p>The lawmaker, who had confessed to have beaten a 60-year-old duty manager of Air India with a sandal &quot;25 times&quot; &nbsp;on Wednesday, booked three seats in the Mumbai-bound train.</p>

<p>Gaikwad faced public outrage for his brazen assault on an airline employee for being asked to sit in the economy class of an Air India aircraft flying from Pune to New Delhi.</p>

<p>The first-time lawmaker from Osmanabad in India&#39;s western state of Maharashtra also used his clout to delay the flight service, following which Air India and four other major airlines decided to blacklist him.</p>

<p>On Friday evening, the MP had booked a ticket on another airline IndiGo to travel from New Delhi to his home state. But the airline cancelled his booking when they were alerted that the ticket was for the&nbsp;Gaikwad.</p>

<p>Incidentally, the lawmaker became the first passenger to have been barred from flying by an Indian airline for rude behaviour. Although, it is a common policy of international airlines to bar rude passengers from flying with them, the move against the Indian lawmaker is an unprecendented one taken by Indian airlines.</p>

<p>Air India has also pressed charges against Gaikwad for his misdemeanour on the flight that was supposed to take him to India&#39;s capital city for parliamentary work.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Vadodara (Gujarat): Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad enroute to Mumbai in a train, refrains from commenting further on Air India row. <a href="https://t.co/qhAyEWCliE">pic.twitter.com/qhAyEWCliE</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845422862483652608">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad refrains from commenting further on Air India row,says Uddhav Thackeray or Anil Desai will speak on it <a href="https://t.co/wfNaOtoae9">pic.twitter.com/wfNaOtoae9</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845327664445607936">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Gaikwad&#39;s action also drew sharp rebuke from his colleagues in the parliament, with many condemning the incident.</p>

<p>His party, the far-right Shiv Sena, has decided to question him about the incident, but soundbytes emanating from their camp has sent out mixed signals.</p>

<p>Some of his party colleagues -- Eknath Shinde and Ramdas Kadam -- chastised Gaikwad for resorting to violence, which was also caught on video.</p>

<p>But another party leader Sanjay Raut backed the under-fire Gaikwad and instead questioned Air India&#39;s handling of the incident. Raut asked Air India to &quot;ponder&quot; about what happened on Wednesday and how it would feel if the public started to blacklist them.</p>

<p>An equally belligerent Gaikwad has refused to apologise for his actions as well, saying the assaulted employee named Sukumar Raman should say sorry first. He has also complained to the civil aviation ministry about the incident and questioned why domestic flights don&#39;t provide &quot;TV and towels&quot; like the international carriers do.</p>

<p>Hours after the assault, Gaikwad had unflinchingly stated: &quot;I am not a BJP (Indian PM Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party) MP. I am a Shiv Sena MP and will not tolerate any insult.&quot;</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)</p>


Domestic airlines unitedly 'banned' him from flying on their aircraft for assaulting an Air India officer

The Indian lawmaker, who had been barred by five airlines for assaulting an airline employee, had to take the train to travel from New Delhi to Mumbai on Friday night. Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad boarded the August Kranti Express from New Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin station, according to a senior Railway Ministry official. The lawmaker, who had confessed to have beaten a 60-year-old duty manager of Air India with a sandal "25 times" on Wednesday, booked three seats in the Mumbai-bound train. Gaikwad faced public outrage for his brazen assault on an airline employee for being asked to sit in the economy class of an Air India aircraft flying from Pune to New Delhi. The first-time lawmaker from Osmanabad in India's western state of Maharashtra also used his clout to delay the flight service, following which Air India and four other major airlines decided to blacklist him. On Friday evening, the MP had booked a ticket on another airline IndiGo to travel from New Delhi to his home state. But the airline cancelled his booking when they were alerted that the ticket was for the Gaikwad. Incidentally, the lawmaker became the first passenger to have been barred from flying by an Indian airline for rude behaviour. Although, it is a common policy of international airlines to bar rude passengers from flying with them, the move against the Indian lawmaker is an unprecendented one taken by Indian airlines. Air India has also pressed charges against Gaikwad for his misdemeanour on the flight that was supposed to take him to India's capital city for parliamentary work. Vadodara (Gujarat): Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad enroute to Mumbai in a train, refrains from commenting further on Air India row. pic.twitter.com/qhAyEWCliE — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × #WATCH: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad refrains from commenting further on Air India row,says Uddhav Thackeray or Anil Desai will speak on it pic.twitter.com/wfNaOtoae9 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × Gaikwad's action also drew sharp rebuke from his colleagues in the parliament, with many condemning the incident. His party, the far-right Shiv Sena, has decided to question him about the incident, but soundbytes emanating from their camp has sent out mixed signals. Some of his party colleagues -- Eknath Shinde and Ramdas Kadam -- chastised Gaikwad for resorting to violence, which was also caught on video. But another party leader Sanjay Raut backed the under-fire Gaikwad and instead questioned Air India's handling of the incident. Raut asked Air India to "ponder" about what happened on Wednesday and how it would feel if the public started to blacklist them. An equally belligerent Gaikwad has refused to apologise for his actions as well, saying the assaulted employee named Sukumar Raman should say sorry first. He has also complained to the civil aviation ministry about the incident and questioned why domestic flights don't provide "TV and towels" like the international carriers do. Hours after the assault, Gaikwad had unflinchingly stated: "I am not a BJP (Indian PM Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party) MP. I am a Shiv Sena MP and will not tolerate any insult." (WION with inputs from PTI)

India: After airlines ban, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad forced to travel by train

<p>The Shiv Sena has come out in support of its MP who beat -- with his slipper -- a 60-year-old Air India staffer.</p>

<p>The Shiv Sena&#39;s S Raut said: &quot;A mistake was made, violence was used, we will see who was responsible for that. An FIR has been lodged no? Now we will see who else an FIR should be lodged against.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raut went on to add: &quot;Anybody -- an ordinary person or a minister -- can get angry if wrong has been done to him.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>ANI reported that Raut was speaking on behalf of the party, not as an individual.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Galti hui hai, haat utha hai, uske liye kaun zimedaar hai woh dekhenge. FIR kiya hai na? Hum dekhlenge aur kis par FIR honi chahiye: S Raut <a href="https://t.co/2dbVT6dax0">pic.twitter.com/2dbVT6dax0</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845279196523851777">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Aam aadmi ho ya mantri ho kisi ka bhi gussa phut sakta hai agar uske saath galat hua hai: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena on Ravindra Gaikwad <a href="https://t.co/VDgnq27UVQ">pic.twitter.com/VDgnq27UVQ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845278113902735360">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Gaikwad has said on Thursday: &quot;I hit him 25 times. Yes, I hit him with my slipper.&quot;</p>

<p>He has refused to apologise, saying instead that it is Air India which should apologise.</p>

<p>Air India and four other airlines have meanwhile banned Gaikwad from flying with them.</p>

<p>Gaikwad becomes the first person to be put on an Indian no-fly list. This in fact is India&#39;s first no-fly list. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Because of his banning, he was forced to take a train back to Mumbai today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Delhi Police meanwhile have said that&nbsp; an FIR has been lodged against Gaikwad.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Case registered under IPC 308 &amp; 355 and transferred to Delhi Police crime branch for thorough probe: Dependra Pathak, Spokesperson,DP <a href="https://t.co/lUc4aQeCEi">pic.twitter.com/lUc4aQeCEi</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845273476227227648">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Surprisingly, and perhaps shamefully, Gaikwad has received support from other political quarters too.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union minister of state for law and justice PP Chaudhary was quoted by ANI as saying that, &quot;There is no law that bars anyone from travelling anywhere...&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP MP added, &quot;If someone has committed a crime he can be punished but denying (him) a ticket is seriously wrong.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There is no law that bars anyone from travelling anywhere or denying a ticket: Union MoS for law and justice PP Chaudhary on Gaikwad <a href="https://t.co/AfhlT0LEv1">pic.twitter.com/AfhlT0LEv1</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845266893577621511">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If someone has committed a crime, he can be punished but denying a ticket is seriously wrong: PP Chaudhary on Shiv Sena MP R Gaikwad <a href="https://t.co/LCETnsk8Nw">pic.twitter.com/LCETnsk8Nw</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845267301276504064">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>News reports meanwhile added that the AI staffer Sukumar Raman was insistent that charges should be filed against Gaikwad,&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">They are public servants, elected by public they need to behave in a decent manner: Sukumar, AI staff assaulted by Shiv Sena MP R.Gaikwad <a href="https://t.co/K8e4kcUiJ3">pic.twitter.com/K8e4kcUiJ3</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845181916617748481">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>(WION)</p>


Says an FIR has been filed against Ravindra Gaikwad. 'Now we will see who else an FIR should be lodged against'

The Shiv Sena has come out in support of its MP who beat -- with his slipper -- a 60-year-old Air India staffer. The Shiv Sena's S Raut said: "A mistake was made, violence was used, we will see who was responsible for that. An FIR has been lodged no? Now we will see who else an FIR should be lodged against." Raut went on to add: "Anybody -- an ordinary person or a minister -- can get angry if wrong has been done to him." ANI reported that Raut was speaking on behalf of the party, not as an individual. Galti hui hai, haat utha hai, uske liye kaun zimedaar hai woh dekhenge. FIR kiya hai na? Hum dekhlenge aur kis par FIR honi chahiye: S Raut pic.twitter.com/2dbVT6dax0 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × Aam aadmi ho ya mantri ho kisi ka bhi gussa phut sakta hai agar uske saath galat hua hai: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena on Ravindra Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/VDgnq27UVQ — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × Gaikwad has said on Thursday: "I hit him 25 times. Yes, I hit him with my slipper." He has refused to apologise, saying instead that it is Air India which should apologise. Air India and four other airlines have meanwhile banned Gaikwad from flying with them. Gaikwad becomes the first person to be put on an Indian no-fly list. This in fact is India's first no-fly list. Because of his banning, he was forced to take a train back to Mumbai today. Delhi Police meanwhile have said that an FIR has been lodged against Gaikwad. Case registered under IPC 308 & 355 and transferred to Delhi Police crime branch for thorough probe: Dependra Pathak, Spokesperson,DP pic.twitter.com/lUc4aQeCEi — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × Surprisingly, and perhaps shamefully, Gaikwad has received support from other political quarters too. Union minister of state for law and justice PP Chaudhary was quoted by ANI as saying that, "There is no law that bars anyone from travelling anywhere... The BJP MP added, "If someone has committed a crime he can be punished but denying (him) a ticket is seriously wrong." There is no law that bars anyone from travelling anywhere or denying a ticket: Union MoS for law and justice PP Chaudhary on Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/AfhlT0LEv1 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × If someone has committed a crime, he can be punished but denying a ticket is seriously wrong: PP Chaudhary on Shiv Sena MP R Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/LCETnsk8Nw — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × News reports meanwhile added that the AI staffer Sukumar Raman was insistent that charges should be filed against Gaikwad, They are public servants, elected by public they need to behave in a decent manner: Sukumar, AI staff assaulted by Shiv Sena MP R.Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/K8e4kcUiJ3 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × (WION)

Shiv Sena comes out in support of MP who beat Air India staffer

<p>Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who hit an Air India staffer with a slipper at the IGI airport in Delhi and then openly boasted about it, is no stranger to controversies.</p>

<p>The 57-year-old Lok Sabha member from the Osmanabad constituency in the Marathwada region was in the eye of a row in 2014 for allegedly trying to force-feed a Muslim caterer during the fasting month of Ramzan over the quality of chapatis served at the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.</p>

<p>He has various criminal charges against him which include voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from duty, criminal intimidation and rioting among others.</p>

<p>He was twice elected to the Maharashtra Assembly before going to the Lok Sabha in 2014.</p>

<p>Gaikwad, whose violent streak was on display today, has been a member of the Joint Committee on Security in Parliament House Complex since April 2015.</p>

<p>He holds M Com and B Ed degrees and is known as &#39;Ravi Sir&#39; in his constituency.<br />
<br />
(PTI)</p>


Criminal charges against him include voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from doing their duty, and rioting

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who hit an Air India staffer with a slipper at the IGI airport in Delhi and then openly boasted about it, is no stranger to controversies. The 57-year-old Lok Sabha member from the Osmanabad constituency in the Marathwada region was in the eye of a row in 2014 for allegedly trying to force-feed a Muslim caterer during the fasting month of Ramzan over the quality of chapatis served at the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi. He has various criminal charges against him which include voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from duty, criminal intimidation and rioting among others. He was twice elected to the Maharashtra Assembly before going to the Lok Sabha in 2014. Gaikwad, whose violent streak was on display today, has been a member of the Joint Committee on Security in Parliament House Complex since April 2015. He holds M Com and B Ed degrees and is known as 'Ravi Sir' in his constituency. (PTI)

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad no stranger to controversy