Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad ordered food from the canteen at the MLAs' hostel in Mumbai. After that, the footage of him violently attacking the canteen staff after arguing over the spoiled food served in the canteen went viral on the internet.
If you think he might have been acting out of some kind of rage, the explanation he gave for it seems like he's advocating for rowdiness itself.
This is his explanation:
``I am a warrior. This is the Shiv Sena style. This is my natural reaction. The first time I put food in my mouth, it was a pattern. The next time I put it in my mouth, I started vomiting. After that, I asked the canteen manager for an explanation. He did not respond properly, that is why I attacked. Thousands of people come here because this is a government canteen. I am the representative of the people. If someone does not understand the language of democracy, this will be my language.``
By giving such an explanation, Sanjay Gaikwad MLA is becoming his own judge and writing his own verdict, saying that he was not wrong in attacking the canteen staff.
What should have been done if the food from the canteen had gone bad? You could have complained to the food safety department officials, you could have complained to the police. You could have complained to the Assembly Secretary or the District Collector. If they were normal people, they would have done one of these things. Or they would have brought some people with them and sat on the road, protested and demanded justice in a democratic manner.
But what has the Maharashtra MLA done? He thinks of himself as a movie hero and has beaten up the employees. He has even tried to justify it.
Even if they are the perpetrators, the victims do not have the right to directly punish them. They should try to get punishment according to the law, but taking the law into their own hands is against the Constitution of India. And if an MLA is doing this, there can be no worse example than that. This incident can only be seen as showing the wrong direction to others.
There is no information that the canteen staff who were attacked have filed a complaint with the police. Even if they did not file a complaint, the video of the MLA attacking them is circulating on social media. That evidence is enough to take action against him.
It is rare for justice to be served unless the courts themselves take action against those who speak like kings from such high positions. When the common people who are affected do not get justice, their only hope is the courts.
Last year, he created a stir by announcing a reward for those who cut out Rahul Gandhi's tongue. He is the same Sanjay Gaikwad MLA.
Even though this may seem like a small case, it cannot be ignored. The demand that comes to mind for everyone who has seen the video of the attack is that at least some small punishment should be given to that MLA.