Sena MPs leave govt red-faced

Immediately after Raju, the TDP Member from Vizianagaram, made his brief response, Union Minister for Heavy Industries Anant Geete told him that his response was not acceptable to the party. 

The House was adjourned and Sena Members rushed towards Raju and tried to heckle him. The bedlam on the floor of the House continued for about 10-15 minutes and the situation could be defused only after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, his deputy SS Ahluwalia led the Aviation Minister out of the House. 

Raising the issue of an FIR filed against him by Delhi police and ban on his air travel, Gaikwad said, “I apologise to Parliament if I’ve caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official?  Gaikwad said Delhi Police has charged him ‘with murder’ and requested the Union Home Minister to intervene. 

“Aircraft is a machine which flies with passengers and safety will not be compromised,” Raju said. He also said there were two matters - one concerning a Member of the House and other of a passenger. This remarked left Sena Members fuming. 

Staff security to be stepped up at Mumbai, Pune airports 

Air India is likely to step up security of its staff at Mumbai and Pune airports after Shiv Sena lawmakers allegedly threatened to stall the airline’s operations at these two aerodromes. “We are enhancing security of our staff deployed at Mumbai and Pune Airport in the wake of threat to ground flight operations at these aerodromes,” an Air India source said. 

The security of Air India’s employee is paramount and it can’t take any chance over this, the source said. The move also comes as some of the Air India employees’ unions at Mumbai and Pune airports are affiliated to Shiv Sena’s trade union Bharatiya Kamgar Sangh. The Sena MPs had warned of grounding Air India operations at the two airports after the party failed to get an assurance from Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in Parliament over lifting of the flying ban imposed on party MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who has been accused of beating up the airline official with sandals last month.