New Delhi: Amid unruly scenes in parliament on Thursday, Shiv Sena MPs led by Anant Geete charged at Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and heckled him after he refused to help lift airlines' flying ban on their colleague Ravindra Gaikwad.
Earlier, Gaikwad had sought to assuage the concerns of the members of the House by tendering an unconditional apology for his actions, even though he was persistent with his protest against Air India.
Responding to the demands in the Lok Sabha to help lift the ban, the civil aviation minister said the “law will take its own course”, while refusing to provide any relief to the embattled Shiv Sena MP.
As Geete and other Sena MPs surrounded him, the ministers were seen rushing towards Raju in order to shield him.
"No flight will take off from Mumbai," Geete was heard shouting at the minister, who was escorted out of the house by the BJP's SS Ahluwalia.
Tensions went high after Gaikwad presented his version of the incident and said he had “only shoved the employee”.
“The AI official spoke rudely, held my collar, but I remained calm, as humility is in my nature,” he said.
"I apologise for my behaviour but not to the Air India official who abused and manhandled me," Gaikwad said.
He also submitted video clips to support his claim that he only reacted when provoked.
The situation was brought under control only after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior BJP leaders intervened.
"Aviation minister Gajapathi Raju and Sena MPs will look for an amicable resolution," Singh told ANI on the Gaikwad issue
The Air India incident took place on March 23, when Gaikwad hit a duty manager for not being given a business class seat on a Pune-Delhi flight.
Defending the airlines' stand, the aviation minister said: "The law should take its course. Aircraft are machines where people fly and safety is important. Safety will not be compromised."
