MP regrets force-feeding supervisor

Sena leader claims ignorance about staffer's religion

Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare, who caused a stir by trying to force-feed a Muslim man during the fasting month of Ramzan, on Wednesday expressed regret over his action.

At the same time, Vichare claimed ignorance about the identity or religion of the person he was trying to force-feed. The Sena MP said he was merely trying to draw attention to the inferior quality of the food served at the New Maharashtra Sadan, the residence of the newly elected members of the Lok Sabha from the state.

Pictures of Vichare force-feeding a canteen supervisor went viral on news channels on Wednesday leading to uproar in Parliament. Opposition members accused the Sena leaders of forcing the canteen supervisor, Arshad Zubair, to break his fast.

“I did not know the person’s name, caste or community. I came to know he was a Muslim only after seeing the TV footage and I regret it,” said the Sena MP from Thane in suburban Mumbai.

Another Sena MP Anandrao Adsul claimed that the incident took place last week and was being raised now only for political gains.

“A person’s religion is not written on his face. It was not a deliberate attempt,” Arvind Sawant, the Sena MP from South Mumbai said. He said several Sena MPs have been given transit accommodation at the New Maharashtra Sadan, which was inadequate.

The Sena members also complained about the food being served at the New Maharashtra Sadan canteen run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

“I only asked the man to taste the chapatti he had served us. The chapattis were like rubber and the daal was watery,” Vichare said.

Meanwhile, party president Uddhav Thackeray and BJP veteran L K Advani went into damage control mode. While Uddhav said Shiv Sena was a proponent of Hindutva but did not have any hatred for other religions, Advani disapproved of the MP’s actions.