Grounded MP Ravindra Gaikwad Plays Victim In Parliament, Accuses Air India Staff Of Assaulting Him

Controversial Shiv Sena MP, Ravindra Gaikwad who on camera bragged about hitting a 60-year-old Air India staffer has now taken a complete u-turn on the incident.?

LSTV

Breaking his silence, in his first address in the Lok Sabha after the incident, Gaikwad instead accused the AI official of assaulting him.?

"The Air India staff abused me and pulled me with my collar," he said in the Lok Sabha.?

Gaikwad said he apologises if his behaviour as an MP has hurt the respect of the House, but insisted that the apology was not to the AI staffer.

"What wrong did I do? What is my crime?"

Maintaining that he was innocent Gaikwad said he was a teacher for long and that humility is part of his nature. ?

The MP went on to challenge his travel ban by both Air India and private carriers and said that it was an insult on the Parliament.

LSTV

In another bizarre claim, Gaikwad said he never tried to book the tickets in the names of Ravindra Gaikwad, Professor Ravindra Gaikwad and Professor V Ravindra Gaikwad which were cancelled by the airlines and said someone else tried to do it in his name.?

Gaikwad also played the 'victim card' and said what happened to him was unjust and he is a victim of a media trial.?

BCCL

Replying to him, Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the law will take it course and maintained that passenger safety will not be compromised.?

"Aircraft are machines where people fly and safety will not be compromised".

This is the first time since the slapping incident last month, the MP has managed to reach Delhi, thanks to the blacklisted Air India and private carriers. ?

Earlier, speaking to media outside the Parliament, Gaikwad rejected reports that he had taken a chartered flight to the capital as none of the airlines would accommodate him onboard.

“I am a poor man and I can't afford to charter a flight.”

Gaikwad is said to have taken the Rajdhani Express for reaching Delhi, as he realised that he is not going to fly any time soon.