‘Harsh But Necessary': Shiv Sena MLA Defends Assaulting Canteen Staff, Says It Sparked Govt Action
Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad on Thursday defended his controversial act of physically assaulting a canteen manager at the Akashwani MLA hostel in Mumbai, claiming it was a 'harsh" response but it was 'necessary" and that finally forced the government to act on years of complaints about substandard food. The incident, caught on camera and widely circulated, shows the Buldhana legislator slapping and punching a hostel canteen employee after being served what he described as 'almost poisonous" food. The video has triggered sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, including from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Gaikwad, however, maintained that his reaction—though aggressive—brought long-overdue attention to the issue. Speaking to reporters, he claimed that over 200 complaints had been filed over the last five years about the quality of food served at the canteen, with little or no response from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). 'Even FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal told me that despite asking officials for action, he never got a report for two to three months," said the MLA from Eknath Shinde's faction of Shiv Sena.
The fallout from the assault was swift: the FDA on Wednesday evening suspended the licence of the canteen operator after inspections revealed food safety violations. Gaikwad alleged that the canteen, which serves up to 10,000 people daily, was endangering lives. 'The man I hit was the manager who has now been suspended. He was playing with lives. What I did forced the system to act," he said, justifying his outburst.
Gaikwad further cited personal health concerns, stating that he has suffered from chronic stomach issues for over two decades and avoids eating outside. 'If I eat stale food, I suffer for 15 days. What I was served could have caused severe health issues," he said. 'Yes, my actions were harsh, but they helped bring change. This will save lives of lakhs of Marathi people," he added.
While opposition leaders demanded action against Gaikwad, he remained unfazed. 'It's a non-cognisable offence. I've already met the Assembly Speaker and will speak to the Chief Minister and Deputy CM. I'm ready to face any punishment," he said.
Reactions within the ruling coalition were muted. Amol Mitkari, MLC from ally NCP, urged people to understand the emotional context of the incident. 'Nobody is justifying the assault, but he didn't cause a law and order issue. His anger stemmed from frustration over poor quality food after a long day," said Mitkari.
On the other hand, opposition MLA Rohit Pawar of NCP (SP) doubted whether any real accountability would follow. 'Gaikwad is close to a senior leader in his party and part of the ruling alliance. I doubt any strong action will be taken," Pawar said.
The incident has reignited debate over food safety in government facilities and raised questions about accountability mechanisms in public institutions.
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July 10, 2025, 14:45 IST
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