Sena MLA slaps canteen staffer for ‘stale’ food

Sanjay Gaikwad, a Shiv Sena legislator from Buldhana, Maharashtra, created a ruckus at the Akashwani MLA Hostel, located behind Mantralaya, and assaulted the manager of the hostel’s canteen, Yogesh Puthran, on Tuesday night after he was purportedly served stale food.

- HT Correspondent

As video clips of a furious Gaikwad holding up packets of the daal he was allegedly served, and striking Puthran, did the rounds on social media on Wednesday, both the ruling coalition and Opposition censured the act at the ongoing monsoon session of the legislature.

“I do not support Sanjay Gaikwad’s reaction to being served bad food. While he became angry, it was not correct to thrash someone. He should have complained instead,” said deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.

Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande told HT, “One must control one’s anger. Why slap and punch workers? A complaint should have been registered following which the contractor should have been changed.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Anil Parab likened Gaikwad’s behaviour to that of a roadside goon.