The visuals were straight from hell: An elected representative of the people pushed and shoved an airline staffer, abusing him throughout, assaulting him repeatedly with a slipper. At least three other Air India staff had to pry him away from the man he was assaulting, and convince him to come back inside the plane and take a seat. A flight attendant then explained to him - extremely patiently, given the circumstances - that as an elected representative, he shouldn’t be acting in such a manner. But Ravindra Gaikwad, a Shiv Sena MP, was flippant, arrogant, and had no fear of consequences.
He proudly told reporters later that he hit the man 25 times with a slipper, and that it was the threat of accountability from the staffer that actually set him off. “I first asked him to lower his voice as his blood pressure would shoot up. He then said he would complain to Modi. Then I slapped him. I hit him 25 times with my sandal,” Ravindra Gaikwad told reporters later. "I am Shiv Sena MP, not of BJP, to tolerate abuses," he added.
His actions on Thursday though have angered not just Air India, but at least six other airlines. Indigo, Spicejet, Jet Airways, GoAir, AirAsia and Vistara, along with Air India, have announced that they will not take Virendra Gaikwad on board ever again.
Netizens have welcomed this move, disgusted as they are with Gaikwad’s uncouth behaviour.
Airline's should black listed such offenders and life time ban to travel by any airline. Best punishment. #RavindraGaikwad
— Anup Rathour (@anup_rathour) March 24, 2017
Good to see airlines uniting against hooliganism. The public should have done the same while electing them #RavindraGaikwad @airindiain
— Aviraj Singh (@avirajsingh) March 24, 2017
@ShivSena Nw is d time country expects an exemplary move, Throw out Netaji for being unconscionable disgrace #RavindraGaikwad #Goongaikwad
— Shrey Singh (@ishreysingh) March 24, 2017
Perhaps we don't like @airindiain services much but right now whole nation is loving you for your such a prompt action #RavindraGaikwad #ban
— Rakesh Sharma (@rakesh281993) March 24, 2017
"With great power,comes great responsibility": Shri Spiderman
— Mogambo खुश हुआ! (@awesomedoctor13) March 24, 2017
"With great Chappal,comes greater power" : Shri #RavindraGaikwad
Some even wanted the railways to ban him for his behaviour.
Add Indian Railways, petrol pump assocns, ship operators & cycle puncture repair shops. Then sit back & watch the fun... #RavindraGaikwad
— Dwaipayan Bose (@rijubose) March 24, 2017
And many wanted to know why the MP hasn’t been arrested yet.
People will lose faith in justice system if Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad goes unpunished as he has already accepted his act. #Goongaikwad
— Amul Atri (@AmulAtri) March 23, 2017
He doesn't really need a flight to the jail where he should actually be. #RavindraGaikwad
— Subhendu Mohanty (@drsubhs) March 24, 2017
Watch the full video here: