gheraoing and heckling aviation minister

airlines will not be allowed to fly out of Mumbai

till he apologises

Will boycott NDA meet if Gaikwad issue not resolved by April 10: Shiv Sena

NEW DELHI: Hours afterAshok Gajapathi Raju in Lok Sabha, the Shiv Sena on Thursday warned the government that unless airlines’ lift the ban on its MP Ravindra Gaikwad it will not attend the NDA dinner at the Prime Minister’s residence next Monday. It has also reportedly threatened that, its stronghold and India’s biggest aviation hub after Delhi.The government is now trying to find a middle path so that Gaikwad flies again while it is not seen to be giving in to the strong arm tactics of the Sena. While an apology will be the prefect fig leaf, the Shiv Sena is unwilling to relent on that. For once, a firm Gajapathi Raju and airlines are clear on the issue of Gaikwad remaining groundedShiv Sena upped the ante after Gaikwad came to Parliament on Thursday and played the victim card by blaming Air India and its employees for his beating up the 60-year-old staffer. When Raju made it clear that airlines’ action is not against an MP (Gaikwad) but against a flyer for (flight) safety, Shiv Sena MPs gheraoed and heckled him. They thumped his desk violently. The minister had to be escorted to the safety of his chamber by BJP ministers like Smriti Irani and Jayant Sinha to shield him from Shiv Sena MPs.Later, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan called a meeting of the Shiv Sena MPs and aviation authorities. She termed the flying ban as an inconvenience to MPs who have to travel a lot and said the aviation ministry will find an amicable solution out of this soon.While the aviation ministry is under pressure to get Gaikwad back in the air, it is learnt to have sought an apology from the MP before that happens. “If you want, the issue can be resolved. If you want, the issue can be escalated,” Raju said in no uncertain terms in Lok Sabha after Gaikwad said he would apologise to Parliament but not to Air India or its employee.“Kya aukat hai AI chairman ki? Kaun hai uska chairman? Air India kya hai? Sab resolve ho jayega. Dekh lenge,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said after the meeting. The party made its stand — reportedly cleared by chief Uddhav Thackeray — known after failing to get a favourable statement from Raju in Parliament.BJP is now caught between two alliance partners. TDP is upset at the Shiv Sena’s behaviour with Raju in Parliament. “It is unfortunate to witness some MPs’ unruly behaviour towards aviation minister (Gajapathi Raju). Strongly condemn such behaviour,” TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted. Sena, on the other hand, is firm that Gaikwad must fly without any delay or apology.Raju’s statement in Parliament that “aircraft is a machine where people fly. Safety is important. Safety cannot be compromised,” which justified the ban on Gaikwad saw the Sena MPs and minister go out of control. Air India has sought extra security at airports in Mumbai and Pune for its employees. These two airports are in Sena stronghold cities.