New Delhi: Comedian Kapil Sharma’s alleged drunken behaviour on a flight was raised in parliament today as the Shiv Sena tried to defend its MP Ravindra Gaikwad.
The Sena MP from Osmanabad was banned from flying most major airlines on Friday forcing him to take a train from Delhi to Mumbai.
Gaikwad attained notoriety after he assaulted an Air India official with his slippers, slapping him 25 times, on Thursday.
Sena’s Anandrao Adsul raised the issue in the Lok Sabha saying, “Kapil Sharma misbehaved on a flight after getting drunk but no ban was imposed on him. Corrupt people are allowed to fly. How can an MP be banned?”
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju responded saying, “The rules are the same for all, including an MP. Violence on a flight can be disastrous… we cannot compromise safety in airlines.”
Reports say Air India will also issue a warning to comedy host Kapil Sharma, who is accused of misbehaving with his co-star Sunil Grover, on a flight to Mumbai from Melbourne two weeks ago. Though the brawl has been in the news over the cataclysmic impact on Sharma’s TV show, talk of possible action has emerged after Gaikwad was banned by six airlines.
Gajapati Raju said airlines are empowered to deny boarding to any passenger whose demeanour is incorrect. But “never in the wildest of dreams had I expected an MP to get caught in this,” he said.
Gaikwad also abused a 60-year-old AI employee and allegedly tried to push him down a step-ladder during an argument over a business class seat. After every airline refused to book him a seat, the politician was forced to take a train.
Gaikwad has been unapologetic about his conduct and said it is Air India who should apologise to him.
In Parliament today, the Samajwadi Party backed the Shiv Sena, with Naresh Agrawal blaming airlines saying, “just goes to show their dadagiri (bullying)”.
