The curious case of Ravindra Gaikwad

The ongoing spat between Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, and Air India, is revealing a plot twist every passing moment. The MP infamously had an altercation with an Air India official last month, which quickly escalated into a fistfight. The video of the event was circulated on social media platforms, and soon the MP gathered flak from several quarters. Consequentially, it led to him being boycotted by the national carrier. Six other domestic airlines too asserted their solidarity with Air India, banning Gaikwad from flying, and blacklisting him.

Gaikwad’s attempts at securing a ticket on Air India have been thwarted several times, and has even led to Shiv Sena MPs threatening to disrupt aviation services in Mumbai, if his status as a flyer isn’t restored.

In the recent chain of events, Air India lifted that ban after being satisfied with the statement given by the MP. Other Federation of Indian Airlines member airlines followed suit. However, the Indian Commercial Pilot’s Association sent a letter the minister of civil aviation Ashok Gajapati Raju seeking an unconditional apology to the officials.

Prominent social servants and celebrities weigh in on the curious case of Ravindra Gaikwad.

‘I strongly believe airlines should blacklist anyone who misbehaves’
Ishika Taneja, Miss India Tourism  
Air India was setting a great example by barring Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad and ensuring that safety of others is more important to them. The move also showed that no MP could misuse his powers and humiliate the same people because of whom he was elected and had taken an oath to safeguard. I strongly believe that airlines should blacklist anyone who misbehaves with the staff and co-passengers.

‘Would I have been let off this easily? Probably not’
Sushant Singh, Television Host, Savdhaan India
I  think no-fly lists, in such cases, is an absolute necessity. One cannot have the VIPs of the country behaving this way. I keep wondering what repercussions I would have had to face had I misbehaved with an airline employee in such a manner. Would I have been let off this easily? Probably not. Why are MPs getting such treatment? Are we trying to get out the message that some people are better than the others?

I also think that had he issued an apology, it wouldn’t be an issue to lift the ban, but considering how Air India was literally forced to lift it, it isn’t acceptable.

‘One needs to address it then and there’
Ganesh Nallari, Designer
Blacklisting someone from flying won’t solve the problem. Instead, the need of the hour is to talk and settle the problem. If a person is behaving badly, one needs to address it then and there. You can’t possibly stop a person from doing something; it’s their right to fly. Air India being a government-run body had a lot of pressure and it’s quite understandable that they had to revoke their decision after all the threats they received from different sectors.

‘It’s disgusting the Parliament wasted so much time on this issue’
Indrajit Lankesh, Kannada film director and producer
It is rogue behaviour on his part. He has been elected, and then he behaves like this. They should have gone ahead with the ban. If a man is going to behave like this on a flight and beat someone up with his chappal, then take his own time to apologise and waste people’s time and money on this, it’s ridiculous. It’s disgusting that he did this, and it’s disgusting that the Parliament wasted so much time on this whole issue. Just like a driver’s license is banned in a case of drunk driving, the same way this ban should have stayed. It would have become a rule and then the rule has to be followed. You can’t pose a threat to people like this and just get away with it. He harmed someone.

‘No matter how big his position, one should behave properly’
Subi Suresh, Actor
The cabin crew cares for us, and serves us during the flight. As a senior politician, what Ravindra Gaikwad did to a member of the crew is not correct. No matter how big his position is, one should behave properly in such a place. You should learn from the way the crewmembers handle travellers during flights. They are quite patient. Even if a traveller makes a mistake, they correct them politely. We should give the same respect back to them. I believe that Air India’s initial step to put a travel ban on Gaikwad was an apt one. Now, they have lifted the ban. It may be a favour from the airline’s part for him, or they don’t want to get into more troubles.

‘It (blacklisting) was a very transparent way of reprimanding him’
Madhu Saran, Social Entrepreneur
Putting the MP on a no-fly list gave a strong message to wrongdoers. They should get what they deserve, however big or important they might be. It was a lesson for other people too. Him being in a respectable post, and misbehaving, was simply unacceptable. I wish they continued to blacklist him. It was a very transparent way of reprimanding him. Although it is unclear as to why the ban was lifted, it shows the pressure the airline has been under.