After Punching Canteen Worker at MLA Hostel, Shiv Sena Legislator Targets South Indians

The Wire

11-07-2025

New Delhi: After a video of a Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad went viral where he is seen punching a canteen worker at the MLA hostel in Colaba for serving him 'stale' food, the legislator went on to target South Indians, claiming they "operated dance bars and ladies bars in Maharashtra" and "ruined its culture and youth."
Later, Gaikwad said that he was speaking about the Shetty community, to which the canteen contractor belongs.
"The attitude of people from the South towards Maharashtra… look, these ladies bars, dance bars, they have played a role in corrupting our youth and children. They have damaged Marathi culture. Dance bars and ladies bars are not a part of our Marathi culture,," said Shetty, trying to put a Marathi vs South Indian angle into the controversy over his assault on the worker, reported Times of India.
Gaikwad claimed that the "Shetty" contractor was his friend, but despite repeated complaints about the sub-standard quality, no action had been taken about food quality at the MLA canteen. The licence of the canteen contractor was later suspended.
"Why was a contractor named Shetty given the contract? Give it to a Marathi person. They know what we eat and will give us good quality food," said Gaikwad.
"That is why I attacked them," said the MLA, justifying his action.
He also said that it was after his attack on the canteen worker that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) intervened and took action against the contractor.
"So what I did may have been wrong, but my intentions were correct, which was proved by the FDA taking action. And if they (canteen management) do it again, I will not deter from beating them up again," said Gaikwad.
People from the hospitality industry attached to an association mainly representing the Shetty community's Udipi restaurants and bars have condemned Gaikwad's remarks and rubbished his allegations, the TOI report said.
The association members have said that the MLA had no understanding of how their hospitality had been an integral part of Mumbaikars' lives and Marathi culture for over a century.