Mumbai March 24 (IANS) 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.
--IANS
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Shiv Sena sympathetic to MP who assaulted airline staffer
