NEW DELHI: The saga of the grounded MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Thursday stunned the Lok Sabha, as Union Minister and Shiva Sena leader Anant Geete and his party MPs menacingly surrounded Union Minister of Civil Aviation Gajapathi Raju.
With the Shiva Sena MPs angrily thumping the desks of Raju, besides blocking his way, Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh and his colleague Smriti Irani had to intervene to allow the Civil Aviation Minister to leave the House. Late in the evening, Gaikwad sent a letter to Raju in which he expressed “regret” for his actions against the Air India staff.
Utter pandemonium prevailed in the House after Raju refused to accede to the demands of the Shiva Sena MPs for revocation of ban on air-travel of Gaikwad, who, while raising the issue during the Zero Hour, sought to play the victim card, besides remaining unapologetic for allegedly assaulting a 60-year old staff of the Air India.
The Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was seen listening to the lamentations of Gaikwad patiently. She later told reporters that though she is not a judge and cannot give a judgment on the issue, the MPs cannot fulfil their responsibilities if there is a ban on them to fly.
Attending the Lok Sabha for the first time after he allegedly assaulted Air India staff, Gaikwad offered his apology to the Lok Sabha but made it clear that he would not be apologising for the staffer whom he had allegedly hit with slippers. He rather demanded action against the CMD of the Air India Ashwani Lohani, who reportedly reached out to other private airlines with his stress on “employee first” principle.
However, Gaikwad’s animated assertions did not cut much ice with Raju who pointedly replied that safety comes first for the airlines. “An airline is a machine and safety is the top concern. Everyone, including an MP, is a passenger on the airline. Safety in no ways can be compromised. Therefore, it’s up to him (Gaikwad) whether he wants to resolve the issue of aggravating it,” Raju in his pointed reply stated, which invited the anger of Geete and his fellow Shiva Sena MPs, who shouted at the minister and thumped his desks.
Incidentally, the airlines have maintained that it could consider lifting the ban if the MP apologises for his actions even while cases have been lodged with the police.
With tempers flying high in the House, which witnessed adjournment, the Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh spoke to Raju and Geete and made a statement in the House afterwards wherein he stated that “an amicable solution would be found by talking to all the stakeholders in the issue”.
With Gaikwad expressing “regret” in his letter to Raju late in the evening, sources said that a breakthrough could be possible on the issue. After Singh’s reply, the normalcy returned to the House. Later in the evening, the Speaker met the Shiva Sena MPs. She expressed her anguish at the behaviour of the Shiva Sena MPs, sources said.
The MPs in the House were seen smiling when Gaikwad during his detailed defence claimed that “humility has been his nature as he had been a teacher”. The Congress leader in the House Mallikarjuna Kharge sought the reply from Home Minister on two ministers of the government quarrelling in the House.
Meanwhile, the Shiva Sena has threatened to boycott the April 10 meeting of the NDA of the ban on air travel of Gaikwad is not lifted.
With the BJP, sources said, staying firm that the government should not be seen siding with the errant MP, the Shiva Sena leaders stated that the party would continue agitation both inside the House and outside. The Air India has also enhanced security at its Mumbai and Pune facilities in anticipation of protests by the Shiva Sena activists.