This is how Sena MPs created ruckus in Lok Sabha over Gaikwad issue

NEW DELHI: The NDA government got more than a taste of ally Shiv Sena’s political specialty when 18 Sena MPs, including minister Anand Geete, unleashed characteristic power-play and bullying tactics on the floor of the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Geete capped the show with a full throated threat: “No flight will take off from Mumbai from tomorrow.”

All this happened under the watchful eyes of the Speaker and senior ministers, forcing the government to assure Sena MPs to positively consider their demand for lifting the flying ban on MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who has been blacklisted by commercial airlines after he allegedly slapped an Air India staffer last month.

Related: Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad writes a regret letter, flying ban likely to be revoked


Sena MPs gave a full display of their aggression in the House, reducing Opposition parties to mere spectators. They forced three quick adjournments and aggressively charged at and surrounded civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who initially rejected their demand.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh had to whisk away Raju from the Sena MPs’ siege. Singh then held peace talks at the Speaker’s chambers and announced that all stakeholders would be engaged to find “an amicable solution.”

Within minutes, Raju reached Geete’s office in Parliament House where senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut too was present for peace talks. Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, was in the Lok Sabha gallery earlier to monitor execution of the Sena protest. Raju assured the Sena MPs the airlines-imposed ban on Gaikwad would be lifted.

There are indications that TDP boss Chandrababu Naidu communicated to party colleague Raju to find a solution. Later, Speaker told reporters that MPs need to travel by plane and train to discharge their duties. Later, Raut said the Sena MPs’ action was cleared by party chief Uddhav Thackeray himself.

Raut said Sena would boycott the NDA meeting on April 10 if its demands - lifting of flying ban on Gaikwad, dropping of attempt to murder charge against Gaikwad in FIR filed by Delhi Police and action against ‘erring’ airline officials — are not met. He threatened to “reveal the name of the person who actually prompted actions meant to insult Gaikwad.”

Raut added: “Sena always dictates the time for action. If Kashmiri separatists, rapists and other crooks can travel by Air India, what right does the airline have to ban an elected MP? Who is this MD of Air India to decide on banning an MP?”