Sena backs Gaikwad, questions Air India's definition of 'discipline'

Air India had on April 7 lifted its ban on Gaikwad after he expressed regret for assaulting one of its employees.

Mumbai, April 11: Shiv Sena on Tuesday said the media's extensive coverage of the Gaikwad-Air India row made even infiltrations from Pakistan "look bleak" and noted that it has now become a fashion to hold politicians responsible for everything.

"It was surprising that the media gave so much importance to the Gaikwad episode which made even infiltrations from Pakistan look bleak," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Tuesday quipped.

"If so much media coverage was given to farmers' suicides, the hearts of those in power would have melted over their plight," the Sena said.

Air India had on April 7 lifted its ban on Gaikwad after he expressed regret for assaulting one of its employees.

The Osmanabad MP had assaulted the AI employee on March 23 after he landed here on a Pune-Delhi all-economy flight.

"Why are there attempts being made to discipline only Gaikwad? A TDP MP at Vijayawada airport had recently slapped a duty manager and prevented an airline from taking off its flight. Why was Gaikwad formula not applied to him as well?".

"The stubbornness of a few people over the episode means an absence of law," it said.

"Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha is a gentleman and we welcome his stand to bring in discipline, but under which disciplinary rule does Air India CMD's action of maligning the image of an elected representative on social media fit? What is Air India's definition of discipline?" the Sena asked.

PTI