Congress Defends Shiv Sena MP Who Hit Air India Staffer With Slipper

Extending support to Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, the Congress on Monday said that Air India staffer Sukumar was equally at fault.

“Not all MPs are the same as shown. As the MP behaved, so did the airlines. If he misbehaved, the airlines also put him on the ‘no-fly’ list. The people should behave like a normal citizen,” Congress leader Rajni Patil said.

Resonating similar views, another Congress leader Husain Dalwai said that it was not just one-sided.

“He is a famous leader in Osmanabad. We should keep in mind how the officer talked to Gaikwad. I am not going to support his act. What he did was wrong, but this is not just one-sided,” he told ANI.

The Shiv Sena has given a shutdown call in Maharashtra's Osmanabad in support of Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India staffer last week. The party is also likely to bring a privilege motion in the Parliament over the issue of Gaikwad being put in 'no fly list' of all airlines.

Air India and six private airlines banned the 56-year-old MP from flying as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage. The MP has now threatened to sue to the airline for putting him on the list.

Gaikwad, after being blacklisted by the top airlines, boarded a train to Mumbai on Friday evening. The MP refrained from commenting further on the row and said Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray would speak on the matter.

With inputs from ANI