The ruling Shiv Sena on Thursday bought time to take a stand on the incident involving the assault on an Air India employee by its MP Ravindra Gaikwad, by saying it had sought an explanation from the party MP and was also seeking the version of the AI employee about the incident.
In a calibrated reaction to the assault on Air India staffer Sukumar Raman by Gaikwad, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s media advisor Harshal Pradhan said: “The Sena does not condone violence of any kind. The party has sought an explanation from Gaikwad over the incident. Since we have a workers’ union in Air India, we are also trying to get the version of the Air India staffer. Once we have both versions from both sides, we will present the same to the party president so as to facilitate him to take a call in the matter”.
Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande had earlier said: “The Shiv Sena does not subscribe to such reaction by any of our party members. Gaikwad is known as Ravi sir and is very popular in his constituency. He has worked a lot towards solving the water problems of his region. We really should know from him as to what made him lose his temper. He is not a person who would suddenly do such a thing”.
Earlier in the day, Gaikwad had allegedly hit AI’s duty manager Sukumar with his slipper several times, following an argument with the latter over his displeasure about his having had to travel from Pune to New Delhi by economy class despite his possessing a business class ticket.
The incident happened at around 10 am on board the plane, after the morning flight AI-852 from Pune to Delhi landed at the New Delhi airport at around. The airline could not provide Gaikwad business class seat, since AI-852 was all-economy class fight.
Upon arrival at the New Delhi airport, Gaikwad refused to move out of the aircraft. Sukumar, an AI duty manager, requested the Sena MP disembark from the plane. The conversation between the two turned into argument, prompting Gaikwad to hit Sukumar with his slippers.
Admitting that he hit Sukumar with his slippers 25 times, “Haan maine usko maara tha,usne badtameezi ki thi”. Gaikwad claimed that the AI employee did not provide him satisfactory reply and also threatened him that he would complain Prime Minister Narendra Modi
On his part, Sukumar told media persons: “The MP hit me, used bad words. He not only broke my specs but also humiliated me in front of the whole crew”.