The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday castigated Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad for his unruly behaviour with an Air India staffer and called for corrective measures to ensure that such shameful conduct is never ever repeated in public life.
BJP leader Shina NC dubbed Gaikwad's action as obnoxious and asserted that ball is now in the Shiv Sena's court.
"Mr Gaikwad's behaviour is not just obnoxious; it needs to be condemned univocally. Any Member of Parliament, corporate or elected representative taking the law into his hand and beating up an employee is so shameful. I think corrective measures must be taken at every party-level and where the introspection is based on conduct in public life," she said.
"As far as the Civil Aviation Ministry is concerned, two FIRs have been launched. It is for the Shiv Sena and Mr Uddhav Thackeray to decide what corrective measures should be taken, it is not for us to be moral guardians of other political parties," he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that Gaikwad's action was in bad taste and asserted that such incidents hurt the sentiments of the people.
"The Shiv Sena MP's actions were in really bad taste. Behaviour of an elected representative hurts the sentiments of the common man. Such actions cannot be justified," said Naqvi.
However, a day after two FIRs were registered against him for hitting a 60-year-old Air India staffer with his slipper and for forcibly holding the flight and delaying it for 40 minutes, Gaikwad today remained unapologetic about the incident and dared the Delhi Police to arrest him.
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"I will not apologise. It was not my fault, it was his fault. He should apologise. First ask him to apologise then we will see," Gaikwad told the media here.
"Let the Delhi Police arrest me. Uddhav ji will decide the course of action," he added.
The MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra also downplayed reports suggesting that Air India is considering banning him from boarding its flights.
"I have the tickets, they can't blacklist me. I will board the Delhi-Pune Air India flight this evening. How can they not allow me?" he said.
According to reports, an association of airlines has decided that Gaikwad will not be allowed on flights. It has also issued a statement stating to conduct a probe into the incident.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has sought a report to determine the facts before he decides on what happens next for Gaikwad.
The Shiv Sena yesterday said that it does not tolerate violence.
Gaikwad was travelling from Pune to New Delhi when scuffle broke out over the sitting arrangement.
The MP claimed that his ticket was for business class but Air India provided him economy class.
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