NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena today defended party MP Ravindra Gaikwad 's assault on an Air India staffer, even as political leaders cutting across all party lines strongly condemned the incident.The Shiv Sena legislator, who brazenly admitted to thrashing the airline employee "25 times" with his slipper, was forced to travel by train today after air operators imposed a ban on him.While admitting that the MP had made a mistake, Shiv Sena did not criticize his actions outright, even as political leaders cutting across all party lines strongly condemned the incident and demanded action against him."Aam aadmi ho ya mantri ho kisi ka bhi gussa phut sakta hai agar uske saath galat hua hai (Anybody can lose their temper if they've been wronged, be it a common man or a minister)," Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said."Galti hui hai, haat utha hai... We'll find out who's responsible for this. So what if an FIR has been registered? Hum dekhlenge aur kis par FIR honi chahiye," the Shiv Sena spokesperson declared.Gaikwad, the Lok Sabha MP from Maharashtra 's Osmanabad seat, reportedly abused and hit 60-year-old Air India duty manager R Sukumar with his sandal when the official persuaded him to disembark after the plane landed at the IGI airport.An FIR has been registered against the lawmaker and all domestic airlines have barred him from travelling on their flights.A case has been registered under sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 355 (assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person) of IPC, said Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police's chief spokesperson and special commissioner (operations)."We are transferring the case to Crime Branch for a thorough probe," he said.Union minister for Law and Justice P P Choudhary reproached the decision taken by carriers to deny Gaikwad flight tickets."There is no law that bars anyone from travelling anywhere or denying a ticket. If someone has committed a crime, he can be punished but denying a ticket is seriously wrong," Choudhary said.Meanwhile, Gaikwad has complained to the Delhi Police alleging he was made to travel in economy class despite having a business class boarding pass, and was manhandled by Air India employees when he raised the issue.Shiv Sena has sought an explanation from Gaikwad, who remained defiant and refused to issue an apology to the staffer he assaulted."The party has sought an explanation from Gaikwad over the incident. The Sena does not condone violence of any kind," Harshal Pradhan, media adviser to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray , said.