Mumbai: Even as Shiv Sena MPs have denied allegations, a video footage grabbed by television news channel 'Mi Marathi' has emerged which clearly shows Rajan Vichare, Sena MP from Thane, forcing the fasting Muslim supervisor at Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi to eat chapati.
Defending his act Shiv Sena MP Rajan vichare siad, I was protesting against the quality of food at Maharashtra Sadan."
The incident has sparked outrage with opposition parties criticising the Shiv Sena MPs and demanding a through probe into the matter. Senior Congress Leader Kamal Nath said, “This is an extremely shameful thing and it demonstrates the Shiv Sena's mindset."
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray said," There was no intention to hurt religious sentiments and it is an attempt to suppress our voice",
Around 11 Shiv Sena MPs had visited the Maharashtra Sadan last week and were reportedly angry over not being served Maharashtrian food.
The Shiv Sainiks then proceeded to force Arshad Zubair S, who was fasting for Ramadan, to eat a chapati. The incident took place when a group of around 15 MPs were discussing complaints about the lack of services at the Sadan.
The incident prompted the Indian Railways' IRCTC to immediately suspend its catering service in the Sadan in protest and submit a complain in writing to the Maharashtra Resident Commissioner, saying the employee had been “deeply pained and hurt... as religious sentiments are attached”.
In the complaint, which was forwarded to Resident Commissioner Bipin Mallick, Arshad said, “All the guests along with media reporters and staffs of Maharashtra Sadan got into kitchen where I was getting the orders prepared.
"They caught me and put the chapati into my mouth. I was wearing a formal uniform set as prescribed by IRCTC and everybody in the panel also knew my name as ‘Arshad’ as I was wearing the name tag. Even then they inserted chapati in my mouth which caused my fast to break on the eve of Ramadan. I was hurt with the thing they have done as religious sentiments are concerned.”
Demanding a discussion in the zero hour in Parliament, senior leader Sitaram Yechury said, "such acts won't be tolerated".
NCP leader Nawab Malik said, “Shiv Sena's hooliganism is not new and forcing a fasting Muslim staffer to eat reveals their true face. This act is dangerous for democracy and strict action should be taken against them."
Describing it as a heinous act, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “The ideology of the Shiv Sena is hatred. We condemn such acts and demand action against the MPs."
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