After Shiv Sena threat, Air India asks for increased security at Maharashtra airportsTIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Apr 6, 2017, 02.42 PM IST Highlights
- Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad has refused to apologize to the Air India official he allegedly assaulted - Still, the aviation minister has implied that he's disinclined to lift domestic airlines' ban on Gaikwad - Gaikwad has said "Air India started it." [image: (Representative image)] NEW DELHI: After Shiv Sena <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Shiv-Sena> MPs were earlier today heard shouting in Parliament that they "won't let airlines fly from Mumbai," Air India <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Air-India> has asked for increased security at all airports in Maharashtra, airline sources told ANI. Earlier today, there was uproar in the Lok Sabha <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Lok-Sabha> after Union aviation minister Asok Gajapati Raju <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Gajapati-Raju> implied that he has no interest in lifting the ban on Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ravindra-Gaikwad>, who's been accused of slapping a senior Air India staffer. Following the slapping incident March 23, all domestic airlines put Gaikwad on a 'no-fly list'. Gaikwad has refused to apologize. Even today, Gaikwad apologised to Parliament, but pointedly refused to apologise to the Air India official. "I apologise to Parliament if I've caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official," Gaikwad said. After his brief, unrepentant speech, when Gaikwad's Sena colleagues arose to demand the airlines' ban on him be lifted, the Union aviation minister implied he was disinclined to act on the MP's behalf. "Aircraft are machines where people fly and safety will not be compromised," Gajapati Raju said, implying that Gaikwad's actions compromised passengers' safety.
