Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has landed himself in a massive political controversy, after a video emerged showing him physically assaulting staff at the Akashwani MLA Hostel canteen in Mumbai’s Colaba area. The incident, which has gone viral, unfolded late Tuesday night after Gaikwad reportedly received stale dal and rice in his room.
In the video, Gaikwad,seen wearing a vest is shown slapping a canteen worker repeatedly after allegedly forcing him to smell the food. He is also seen punching and pushing other staff members while holding a packet of the dal. At one point, he is heard abusing the canteen operator and refusing to pay the bill. Despite the workers apologising and admitting the food was stale, Gaikwad continued his physical aggression.
Speaking to reporters, Gaikwad defended his actions saying, “I always eat at home. I had ordered dal and rice in my room. I ate a small portion and felt bad. When I had the second morsel, I puked.”
He claimed the staff admitted the food was unfit for consumption and accused them of endangering people’s health. “They are playing with people’s lives by serving stale food,” he said. “I’m an MLA, but I’m also a fighter,” he added, justifying his behaviour by invoking the ideals of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
Gaikwad further alleged that the canteen contractor had a history of serving substandard food. “They serve dal that is four days old and chicken that is over ten days old. Despite repeated complaints, they did not listen, so I had to answer them in my own style,” he said.
The MLA also stated his intention to raise the matter in the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly and with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorities. Asked whether he regretted the incident at the canteen, Gaikwad said, “When someone fails to understand democratic language, then I have to use this language only.”
Political backlash has been swift. The Congress and other opposition leaders reminded the public of Gaikwad’s past record of controversial remarks and behaviour. Just last week, amid a heated debate over the imposition of Hindi, Gaikwad stirred outrage by rhetorically asking if Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and others were “stupid” for learning multiple languages.
In September 2024, he had also sparked fury after announcing a reward of 1 lakh to anyone who would cut off Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s tongue over his comments on the reservation system.
Sanjay Gaikwad has been known for his incendiary language in the past. In April 2021, he drew flak for saying he wanted to “shove the coronavirus down Devendra Fadnavis’ throat,” accusing the then Opposition Leader of politicising the pandemic. The remark led to violent clashes between Shiv Sena and BJP supporters in his Buldhana constituency.
