Sumitra Mahajan calls for amicable solution to Shiv Sena-Air India dispute

To attend Parliament MPs need to travel by plane too: Lok Sabha Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday called for an amicable solution to the Shiv Sena's demand for removal of the blanket ban imposed by airlines on its MP Ravindra Gaikwad after he allegedly assaulted an Air India Duty Manager last week.

Mahajan told reporters after a meeting with Shiv Sena MPs that the issue should be resolved through talks.

"MPs need to attend Parliament and they can't travel always by train. At times, they need to travel by plane also. I feel this issue should be resolved amicably through talks," she said.

Mahajan said she would not pass a judgment and was just trying to help resolve the issue.

"As of now, everybody is angry. It is time to calm down. How the ban could be lifted needs to be discussed and resolved amicably," she said.

She also noted that no one should misbehave with another person.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju also joined the meeting later.

Gaikwad, who represents Osmanabad in Maharashtra, on Thursday repeatedly beat up the Air India official with a slipper after he was made to travel in Economy Class from Pune to Delhi despite holding a Business Class ticket.

There was no Business Class in the flight. The incident happened when flight AI852 from Pune reached Delhi around 10.30 a.m.

Air India later refused to fly him and other airlines followed suit. An FIR was also registered against the Sena MP.