Airhostess alleges Pappu Yadav threatened to beat her with slippers, MP says ‘political conspiracy’

Bihar lawmaker Pappu Yadav on Wednesday dismissed allegations that he misbehaved with an air hostess on a Patna-to-Delhi Jet Airways flight and threatened to beat her with his slippers after she asked him not to dump leftovers in the aisle.

The Madhepura MP, who was expelled by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) last month for anti-party activities, said there could be a plot to malign him and warned that he would raise the issue with the international carrier.

“I have been travelling by flight for the past 35 years and there has never been a single allegation against me,” Yadav told ANI. “I am going to file a complaint against this accusation with the CEO of the airline because I feel that the air hostess and the crew are doing this merely for publicity. I think this is a conspiracy against me.”

Sources said the commotion began when Yadav dropped dessert on his bag kept near his seat and asked the air hostess to clean it up. When she refused, he allegedly threatened to hit her with his slippers.

“Yadav was extremely unruly with the cabin crew when she asked him not to throw the leftover food in the aisle and also misbehaved with her,” PTI reported quoting airline sources.

According to reports, the MP’s disruptive behaviour forced the captain to ask to be allowed to land ahead of other flights in Delhi and seek the deployment of security personnel at the arrival gate.

The Congress said the parliamentarian should have been arrested for his conduct and called for an end to “VIP culture”.

“Pappu Yadav is an MP. Being an MP, he might have a few privileges when he is travelling, but he is a passenger too. As a passenger, everyone knows the norms of conduct with the cabin crew,” Congress leader PL Punia told ANI. “I am shocked that no action has been taken against him. When he arrived at the Delhi airport, he should have been arrested immediately by the officials. We are totally against this VIP culture of giving undue privileges to ministers whether they travel by plane or ship. This should immediately stop.”

The carrier reacted in a guarded manner, saying there was an incident onboard its Patna flight but refused to reveal the identity of the unruly passenger. “The captain of the flight 9W-728 before landing at Delhi requested ATC for security assistance at the gate due to a disruptive guest onboard. The guest was led by security agencies on arrival,” Jet Airways said in a statement.

An official from the CISF, which is responsible for security at all commercial airports in India, said no complaint was received in this regard.

In her report, the air hostess alleged the MP didn’t follow safety instructions inside the plane, while he manhandled her and also pushed her while getting off the aircraft, said sources.

Yadav, 47, has faced several criminal allegations and spent over five years in jail after being convicted of murdering CPI (M) leader Ajit Sarkar. He was acquitted in the case by the Patna high court two years ago for want of evidence.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times