Dola Sen's argument with AI staff shouldn't be compared with Gaikwad's episode: Amar Singh

Expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Friday said the ongoing controversy surrounding Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen for delaying an Air India flight should not be compared with the episode involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad as it was an emotional issue this time.

"Dola Sen is our companion in the Parliament. Do not compare Dola Sen's case with Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad's. There is a difference between both the incidents," Singh told ANI.

He further said that Gaikwad's case was a violent situation whereas Sen's incident involves emotions.

"In case of an emergency landing, it is instructed that a disabled person won't be allowed to sit near the emergency exit for any inconvenience. Dola Sen might have been unaware about this rule. This is not a crime, but an offence what she did in the plane," Singh said.

Earlier in the day, the Air India issued a clarification stating that Sen did not ask for a wheel chair for her mother while booking seats for the Kolkata bound flight.

The national air carrier further said that the parliamentarian had booked two seats, adding a passenger with wheel chair cannot be seated near the emergency exit as per the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) rule.

"There was no remark of wheel chair during booking, but when all the passengers boarded the flight one passenger was in wheel chair. Cabin crew requested that a wheel chair passenger can't travel in emergency exit as per CAR rule. However, MP Dola Sen started screaming," it said.

The Air India officials said that Sen was offered a business class ticket, but the parliamentarian refused.

"Passengers- on board and captain of flight intervened and finally the flight departed after 39 minutes of the scheduled time," it said.