No BJP help for flight-barred Sena MP

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 27

The NDA government did not oblige ally Shiv Sena MPs, who urged in the Lok Sabha for lifting ban imposed on party member Ravinder Gaikward by air carriers for abusing and beating up an Air India employee, on Thursday.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the MPs also drew attention of the Lok Saba Speaker that ban on Gaikward curtailed his fundamental right of unrestricted movement in the country.

Also, with Parliament in session, the restriction imposed infringed on his right to raise issues of his constituency in the Lok Sabha.

Responding to the matter, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said there was a rule that empowered the carriers to take measures against any passenger for his improper demeanour to ensure safety of passengers. “I had not expected an MP to be caught in it,” Raju said.

MP is also a passenger and there can be no different standards with regard to good behaviour. “We cannot compromise on safety of passengers,” Raju added. With regard to lifting of ban on the disgraced MP, the minister said, “We have to take all concerned on board.”

Not satisfied with Raju’s response, the Shiv Sena MPs trooped into the well of the House and beseeched with Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for intervention to bail out its member.

When they did not heed to her remonstrations, the latter admonished them to go back to their seat and not to espouse a wrong cause. “This is not the way,” she said, and asked the MPs to take up the matter with the minister outside the House.