Lifting Gaikwad's ban will send wrong message to AI employees: former executive director

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Apr. 6 (ANI): Former Air India executive director Jitendra Bhargava on Thursday said if the national carrier lifts the ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad for hitting a staffer then it will send a wrong message to the employees. "The Shiv Sena has different perspective and believes that they can do anything. But today's youth do not want this kind of thing. If Air India is let down this case without the apology of the MP, it will send a wrong message to the employees that people with political affiliation can do anything and get away," Bhargava told ANI. He said the matter now is not only about what Air India wants, adding it's about the public who want a change. "They (public) do not want a MP, who behaved in such an atrocious and obnoxious manner to go scot-free. The Shiv Sena may have their own discipline, culture and have their own view on what is wrong and right. As Ravinder Gaikwad even today in the Parliament said that 'humility is part of his nature' and if what he did was humility then we don't know what is his culture?" he said. He added that it would be important to see what is the government's stand on this issue. Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena MPs surrounded Ministry of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju over the flying ban on Gaikwad and threatened that unless it is lifted they "won't allow the airlines to fly from Mumbai". The incident happened after the Lok Sabha was adjourned by Smitra Mahajan till 12.45 p.m. over the Shiv Sena protest. Earlier, the Shiv Sena MPs were agitated over a statement of the Civil Aviation Minister, who reiterated that the ban was not aimed at a Member of Parliament, but for a passenger and safety was most important in flights. This led to a protest by the Shiv Sena members and the House was adjourned. Gaikwad, who was banned from flying after he assaulted an Air India staff, said that he had been provoked and alleged that the airlines staff misbehaved with him. Speaking on the issue during Zero Hour, Gaikwad demanded that the flying ban on him be lifted. He got support from other opposition parties. The Shiv Sena MP also said that he can apologise to the Parliament but will not apologise to the airline staffer. (ANI)