The decision by most airlines in India to bar the recalcitrant and unrepentant Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad from flying with them should act as a lesson to our representatives who assume that they are above the law (“Airlines body bars Sena MP”, “Speaker ducks action on Sena MP’s assault of AI staff”, both March 25, and “Sena MP leaves train to Mumbai midway”, March 26). Though the Lok Sabha Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, may be technically right in saying that she cannot take suo motu cognisance of the incident since it occurred outside the precincts of Parliament, she could have at least condemned the attack on the Air India official at Delhi airport and reprimanded the Member of Parliament.
B. Harish,
Mangaluru
It was unbecoming of an elected representative to behave in such a barbaric manner. Our MPs and MLAs are not above the laws of the land and the Constitution and the public bestow them with certain benefits and concessions only to aid them in the business of serving public cause. It is heartening that the airline industry has now acted in unison to curb air rage. Much needs to be done to restore the dignity of legislative bodies.
A. Krishnamoorthy,
Bengaluru
The reports reminded me of an incident 40 years ago when I was travelling with my sister and her child, by train in Kerala. We boarded the train very late in the night and found that there was hardly any seat vacant. My sister managed to squeeze into a seat. Just then a gentleman nearby spoke in a commanding voice and asked those sitting along with my sister to vacate their seats. They did so without protest and he then asked my sister to make herself comfortable. He also told us not to worry about anything. We got to know later that he was an MLA. How times have changed since then!
Subramanian R.,
Chennai
