Shiv Sena MP slaps Air India official
23 Mar 2017 |
| Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad assaulted an Air India employee on being informed of the non-availability of business class seats on an all economy flight. Admitting to the assault, he noted, "Yes, I beat him with my sandal 25 times".
The employee has lodged an FIR with the Delhi Police.
An official statement noted that the airline would look into creation of "no-fly list".
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Air India slapping incident: Major airlines stand together
24 Mar 2017 |
| Following the assault on an Air India staffer, major players SpiceJet and IndiGo extended their support towards the "no fly list".
This follows Air India's own decision to blacklist the MP. "We will support a no-fly list", said IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh.
Stating that he is not ashamed he dared Air India to take action.
The issue raises concerns on parliamentarians' impunity in India.
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Lifetime ban on convicts: Election commission backs Supreme Court
21 Mar 2017 |
| The Election Commission of India conveyed to the SC that it supported lifetime ban on convicts from contesting in polls. The ECI also favoured towards setting up special courts to decide cases against public servants and representatives.
The ECI was responding to a PIL filed by BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyaya on setting up of special courts and highlighted its efforts towards decriminalizing politics.
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Disqualification on criminal grounds
FACT |
| The Supreme Court in 2013 struck down section 8(4) of the Representation of People's Act which allowed for legislators to continue post filing of appeal within 3 months of conviction. The matter has also been covered under Articles 102 and 191 of the constitution. |
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Not his first time
Details |
| Gaikwad was part of a group of 11 MPs who forced a fasting Muslim man to eat chapati on Ramzan, at Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi in 2014. The Maharashtra government promised appropriate action.
Since his election the MP has reportedly brawled with the BJP leaders in his constituency.
A college teacher by profession, he is also known to have slapped his students.
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Charges
FACT |
| The MP has over 17 charges against him under various sections of the IPC including homicide (Section 304) and rioting (Section 148). He also has one charge each under criminal intimidation (Section 506) and voluntarily causing hurt (Section 123). |
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Food for thought
Analysis |
| Legislators and concerned bodies have a moral responsibility to bar convicted criminals from contesting in elections. This is crucial to safeguard the integrity of the Parliament and state legislatures.
It is definitely a cause of alarm that convicted criminals continue in office facing no obstacles. This further highlights the law's double standards for those in power and those who aren't.
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