(Source: ANI)
A Shiv Sena parliamentarian reportedly assaulted a crew member of Air India during an argument over a seat aboard the aircraft.
Ravindra Gaikwad was said to have assaulted 60-year old AI staffer R. Sukumar, with his sandal.
A video clip shot during the incident and released by news agency ANI shows the angry MP pushing and shoving the Air India employee even as others try to restrain him. A senior AI air hostess can be heard reminding the MP that “You are our representative, you are our democratic leader, we have elected you.” But Gaikwad brazens it out by arguing with her that he is not bothered about a possible case being filed against him as he has many other cases filed against him in the past.
Air India filed a second FIR against Gaikwad for forcibly holding the flight and delaying it, AI spokesperson was reported to have said.
The airline also said it would set up a team to investigate the incident.
The incident took place at 10.am on Thursday, when AI flight 852 from Pune landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
News of the assault has gone viral on social media with many accusing Gaikwad of abusing his privilege as a member of parliament.
The hashtags ‘Air India’ and ‘Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad’ were trending on micro-blogging site Twitter on Thursday.
Gaikwad adimitted to the attack and bragged to reporters that he had hit the crew member 25 times with his slippers.
“Yes I hit him, he misbehaved with me. I had paid for a business class ticket. This is not the first time it has happened,” Gaikwad was reported to have told TV channel News18.
According to media reports Gaikwad had a business class ticket but the airline changed the Pune-Delhi flight to an all-economy one.
Meanwhile Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju has responded to the incident.
"No citizen should ever resort to any kind of physical assault let alone an MP," Raju was reported to have told NDTV.
AI staff R. Sukumar said he was roughed up and that his spectacles were broken.
The Indian Express reports that the Shiv Sena has distanced itself from the MP's actions as the news went viral.
“The Shiv Sena does not endorse violence or subscribe to such behaviour. We, however, also need to understand why he lost his temper… We need to find out his side of the story as well,” said Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande.
Shiv Sena, a regional party in Maharashtra, is known for its aggressive stance on various issues, often resorting to intimidation and threats of violence to get its point across.
Shiv Sena leader Praveen Shinde and an accomplice were caught on camera assaulting a bank employee in Yavatmal, Maharashtra last year.