A full day after J.C. Diwakar Reddy, TDP Member of Parliament from Anantapur, allegedly assaulted an employee of the IndiGo Airlines in Visakhapatnam airport on Thursday, no case has been filed against him by the airlines or the airport authorities
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who was present in the VIP lounge when the MP created a ruckus, refused to be dragged into the controversy.
‘Nobody above law’
He said in Vizianagaram on Friday that he would get the entire incident inquired into and ensure that lawful outcome followed.
Mr. Raju was not forthcoming on what type of action would be taken against Mr. Diwakar Reddy. He said he neither helped the MP nor was he in a position to condemn the incident without a proper inquiry.
“Nobody is above the law. The CCTV cameras that have recorded his [Mr. Reddy’s] time of arrival will settle the issue whether or not he was in time to board the IndiGo flight to Hyderabad. I have nothing to do with it because I have to concentrate on the growth of civil aviation and not on the behaviour of 10 crore passengers who travel by air every year. As Minister for Civil Aviation, I always reach the airport one hour before the scheduled departure of a flight.”
Following a national outcry, Mr. Reddy has been barred by four airlines — IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Jet Airways. He created a ruckus at the Vishakapatnam airport on Thursday after he was denied a boarding pass. He reportedly arrived late at the counter.
‘Pampered lot’
Reacting to the incident, vice-president of A.P. Air Travellers’ Association O. Naresh Kumar said: “Such unruly behaviour should not be tolerated. Lawmakers do not enjoy any special privileges. But they are a pampered lot because of the VIP treatment they get. Airlines also, at times, oblige VIP culture. While the common man follows the rules, lawmakers take it as a privilege to break them.”
According to IndiGo airlines staff, the final boarding time for a domestic flight is 45 minutes before takeoff and the MP reportedly arrived 28 minutes after the closing time. He was, therefore, denied the boarding pass.
According to airport sources, Mr. Reddy reportedly threatened the staff that he would get them sacked and assaulted an airlines ground staff Praveen.
