Gaikwad puts Sena in a fix

MP's whereabouts are not yet known

The Shiv Sena seems to be in a fix over its MP Ravindra Gaikwad beating up an Air India staffer and then getting himself put on a no-fly list by the Federation of Indian Airlines, even as he and his party became a punching bag on social media. In fact, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had expressed displeasure over the incident and sought a report from Gaikwad.

On Friday, Gaikwad had left New Delhi by train to arrive in Mumbai and head to Matoshree, the bungalow of the Thackerays. But he did not turn up. The whereabouts of Gaikwad are not yet known. Television reports indicated he got down in Gujarat and was travelling to his hometown Osmanabad by road. However, the reports could not be independently confirmed. Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande confirmed that the MP was to meet Uddhav. “He is expected to meet Uddhav Thackeray… the party has taken the incident seriously,” she said, indicating that the party did not approve of such behaviour.

“The Shiv Sena can never support Ravindra Gaikwad’s behaviour. But there should be an inquiry to find out why our MP was forced to behave this way. Hitting anybody can never be the culture of the Sena, but we will surely raise our hand wherever required,” MP Sanjay Raut was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, the Congress demanded Gaikwad’s arrest. “Trivial to equate Shiv Sena’s violence with VIP arrogance. Ravindra Gaikwad’s confession should result in his arrest and expulsion from Lok Sabha,” former Congress MP Milind Deora tweeted.

Writer Shobhaa De tweeted: “So with all airlines banning Ravindra Gaikwad, shouldn’t Indian Railways follow suit? Let Gaikwad cycle back to Mumbai.” “What if @RailMinIndia also decides to not allow #RavindraGaikwad to travel by trains? #JustAsking,” filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted.