Will apologise to Parliament, but not Air India official: Ravindra Gaikwad

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who was banned from flying after he assaulted an Air India official with his footwear, said on Thursday that he had been "abused and manhandled" by the Air India staffer last month. He offered to apologise for his behaviour in Parliament but not to the 60-year-old flight official.

Gaikwad demanded that the flying ban on him should be lifted. He got support from other opposition parties.

Gaikwad, who told TV channels after the March 23 incident that he beat the Air India official with his sandal "25 times", said in the House that on the day of the incident he was made to travel in economy class despite having a business class ticket.

He said after the Pune-Delhi flight landed in the national capital, he asked for the complaint register.

"After 45 minutes, an officer came. I talked to him calmly, but he asked who are you. I asked him who are you, he said he is the 'father of Air India'. When I said that I was a politician, one of them said 'But you are not Narendra Modi. Are you?'" said the Shiv Sena MP, giving his version of the incident.

The MP alleged that the airline staff held him by the collar after which he pushed him.

"Even the Air hostess has given a statement that the incident happened because of the airline staff's misbehaviour. There is a video as well." (READ MORE)