At the end, it is a triumph of hooliganism. Shiv Sena, which is more famous for their unruly behaviour rather than being a nationalist and disciplined force, compelled the airlines to lift the travel ban order against one of its MPs Ravindra Gaikawad. Since mid-sixties, the Shiv Sainiks (cadres of Shiv Sena) have indulged in all sorts of vandalism - be it digging the cricket pitch to prevent the Pakistani cricket team playing in India or barring the north Indians from earning their livelihoods in Mumbai, Shiv Sena has always indulged in violent protests.
Recently, the Lok Sabha witnessed a glimpse of Shiv Sena’s strong-arm tactics. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajpati Raju had to be escorted out of the house by his ministerial colleagues to save him from being physically assaulted by the Sena MPs. What was Mr. Raju’s fault? Mr. Raju’s mistake was that he stood by the rule book, did not entertain the Sena’s demand to lift the flying ban on one of its MP Ravindra Gaikawad. For the last couple of days, Mr. Gaikawad is in the news for hitting an Air India official with his slippers. What provoked the MP to take out his slippers and hit an airline staffer? The unfortunate incident took place when the MP boarded a flight from Pune to reach Delhi. He demanded a seat in the business class. But as on that eventful day Air India was operating an old ATR-42 aircraft, there was no business class seat available in the flight. The MP was informed about this. But Mr. Gaikawad throughout his journey kept on arguing with the crew members and refused to leave the aircraft upon its arrival in Delhi. When the ground staffs intervened, the MP physically assaulted them, thus committing a serious offence and the airlines quite rightly slapped a ban on him. As per the rules, after the shameful incident, Mr. Gaikawad was barred from flying. The action taken against the Sena MP was completely in tune with aviation rules. The rule clearly says that a person, no matter how powerful he may be, will not be allowed to board an aircraft if his presence in the flight endangers the safety of other passengers.
When the airlines foiled all the efforts of the MP to fly despite the ban, the Shiv Sema MPs created ruckus in Lok Sabha. The fact the Mr. Gaikawad or his colleagues did not learn a lesson from the ‘slipper episode’ was evident from the fact that on being denied any leniency by the Union Minister, the Sainiks tried to teach Mr. Raju a lesson in the same manner which Mr. Gaikawad adopted few days ago. Though later the Shiv Sena MP tendered an apology to the Union Minister, it was clearly not enough to allow him to fly again. But surprisingly, Air India in a statement informed that it has lifted the ban and the MP can fly again. Taking the cue, it was immediately followed suit by the other airlines too.
“Mera Bharat Mahan.”
