Air India bans Gaikwad: BJP says restraint in public life important

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shaina NC on Friday said no parliamentarian has warrant to hit anybody with slippers just because they are inconvenient.

Shaina's reaction came after Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut dubbed Air India as a 'mafia goon' over their decision to ban party MP Ravindra Gaikwad for his misbehavior with an airline staffer.

"All I can say to Mr. Sanjay Raut is to assume that Air India was the worse behaved, was wrong for all reason but still it does not warrant for any parliamentarian member to pick his slippers and hit a sixty year old employee. Assuming he was inconvenient, do you expect the people who were on the flight, who were inconvenient also to take out their slipers and hit Mr. Gaikwad?" she told ANI.

She further said that restraint in public life is as important for any elected representative as it is for a common man.

Backing Gaikwad following his dispute with an Air India employee, Raut said,"Air Company's behavior is that of mafia goons, their dictatorship will not last long."

Raut questioned that if terrorists, underworld dons and corrupt people can travel freely on airlines, why has Gaikwad been banned even before the judgement has come.

"They should not have banned him, terrorist, underworld dons, and corrupt people can travel freely so,why is a minister being banned, even before the judgment," he said.

Gaikwad has submitted a complaint against Air India before the Delhi Police, alleging that he was pushed and yelled upon.

In his complaint, Gaikwad, who allegedly manhandled an Air India staffer, said he was made to travel in economy class, despite having a business class ticket.

Air India and six private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP from flying, after he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage.