Slamming the private airlines for putting Ravindra Gaikwad on their 'no-fly list' for assaulting an Air India official, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal on Monday defended the Shiv Sena MP and said banning him reflects dictatorial attitude.
"Airlines banning Ravindra Gaikwad just goes to show their 'dadagiri'," Agarwal said in the Lok Sabha.
Backing Gaikwad, Shiv Sena leader Anandrao Adsul expressed hope with Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan would raise this matter with the government.
"Even Kapil Sharma misbehaved on flight after getting drunk but no ban imposed on him," Adsul said.
Responding to Adsul, Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju said that rules are the same for all passengers.
"We have good safety regulations but never in my dreams expected a Parliament Member to be caught. Rules are the same for everyone," Raju said.
Last week, Gaikwad allegedly manhandled an Air India staffer after he was upset over being forced to travel in economy class.
The incident sparked a furore which eventually led to Air India and six private airliners imposing a ban on Gaikwad.
The Lok Sabha MP from Osmanabad travelled on train from Delhi to Mumbai after his booking was cancelled by Indigo and Air India.
The Sena MP has remained defiant and refused to apologise for repeatedly beating and trying to push down Sukumar from the aircraft.
He also dared the Delhi Police to arrest him and alleged that it was Sukumar who hit him first.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena has come out openly in support of the MP, calling out for a shutdown in Gaikwad's parliamentary constituency Osmanabad.
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