Shiv Sena sympathetic to MP who assaulted airline staffer

Mumbai, March 24 : The Shiv Sena on Friday appeared sympathetic to its MP Ravindra Gaikwad - charged with assaulting an Air India staffer - saying while it did not endorse his action it wanted to know why the situation was allowed to escalate to this level.

"The speed at which our party MP has been banned from flights, if Air India had similarly ordered an improvement in its services, it would have been better," Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut said.

Raut said although his party had no agenda for violence, "if provoked the party would hit back appropriately.

"The question does not concern only one MP, but the common masses in the country also who have to suffer due to the service of Air India," Raut said, appearing to defend Gaikwad.

He alleged that when passengers were being "looted" in airports at Mumbai and New Delhi, why such promptness was lacking on improving Air India's service.

Raut said rather than the party taking any action, it would let the law would take its own course in the matter.

Meanwhile, Harshal Pradhan, the media advisor to Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, said Gaikwad had submitted his explanation to the party, but declined to reveal details.

He termed the issue as "minor" but blown out of proportions by the government to divert attention from major issues like farmers suicides in the country.

The party has been under fire from all quarters with Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam demanding that the Sena should sack its "goonda MP".

Osmanabad MP Gaikwad admitted to having assaulted an Air India staffer "25 times" with his slipper and even tried to push him out of the aircraft in Delhi on Thursday.

Earlier, Air India and all private airlines blacklisted Gaikwad and cancelled his tickets, leaving him with limited travel options to and from New Delhi and his constituency.