Bandh in Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad's Constituency Against Flight Ban

Mumbai: A bandh call has been given by Shiv Sena in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra on Monday to protest against Air India.

Osmanabad is the constituency of controversial Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad.

Shiv sainiks were seen forcing shops to down shutters in Umarga and Lohara talukas of the district.

Gaikwad has been in the news for assaulting an Air India staffer after he was not upgraded to business class on a Pune to Delhi flight. Following the assault, Air India and other domestic airlines blacklisted Gaikwad, forcing him to take trains.

Despite this pressure, Shiv Sena continues to back Gaikwad. Gaikwad on Sunday claimed that he was asked by a top party leader not to speak with the media over the issue.

Threatening legal action against the national carrier, he said he has not gone into hiding and will be present in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Shaina NC of the BJP said the government will take action against Gaikwad. “The government have registered two cases, one for assault and another for flight take off delay. I am sure some action will be taken soon," she said.

“Shutting down shops is not a good idea. Even being an MP doesn’t give right to anyone to misbehave," she added.

Osmanabad SP Pankaj Deshmukh told CNN-News18, “The bandh is limited to Umarga and Duhra the place where Gaikwad resides and from where he was an MLA earlier. The shopkeeper association has yesterday voluntarily agreed to shut their shops in support. We have not yet received any complaint regarding forced closing of shops."

Jitendra Shinde of the Shiv Sena defended the bandh and said, “The ban was wrong. Our MP is 59 years old. He was treated badly."

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena plans to move a privilege motion on Wednesday. Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant to CNN-News18, “We will motion privilege motion in Parliament on Wednesday. Airlines do not have any right to blacklist a MP."