Apologise to Parliament, not to Air India staffer: Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad in LS

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad speaking in Lok Sabha.

New Delhi: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwaid on Thursday apologised to the Parliament for his abrasive act in an Air India flight last month but said he wouldn’t apologise to the Air India staffer. Gaikwad, who had confessed to hitting an Air India duty manager for not being given a business class seat, said in the House that on the day of the incident (March 23) he was made to travel in economy class despite having a business class ticket. He said after the Pune-Delhi flight landed in the national capital, he asked for the complaint register. "Then an officer came, then two or three more officers came.. When I said that I was a politician, one of them said 'But you are not Narendra Modi. Are you?" said the Shiv Sena MP, giving his version of the incident. He alleged he was pushed around by the airlines staff and then one of them held him "by the collar". “There is a video evidence of the entire incident. I pushed the Air India staffer as he pulled my collar. His act angered me and I was forced to push him in retaliation,” Gaikwad said while defending himself in Lok Sabha. He also demanded the attempt to murder charge under IPC 308 be withdrawn against him as the case is not yet been investigated completely. Gaikwad alleged that a media trial was going on against him. Supporting Gaikwad in Parliament, Union Minister and party MP Anant Geete said, “this is shameful and unfortunate as without thorough investigation an MP was barred from flying.” Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in response said that the law will take its own due course and safety can't be compromised in any circumstances. Gaikwad came to the national capital on Wednesday after flying from Osmanabad in a charter plane. On March 24, he was barred from flying by four private Indian carriers and Air India after his brazen assault on an official of the national carrier. He had to return to Maharashtra in a train. According to a source of newsagency PTI Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had suggested to Gaikwad to keep away from media after the infamous episode. ALSO READ: Majority of fake new notes seized from Gujarat Asked what would be Gaikwad's stance if Thackeray were to ask him to tender an apology over the assault, the source said "going by Gaikwad's innocence in the matter and also going by the Sena's track record of not giving in to injustice, such a scenario appears unlikely." (With inputs from Agencies)