Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 9 (HBTV): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday strongly criticised the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra after a video surfaced on social media allegedly showing Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad assaulting a canteen worker.

In the video, the MLA from Buldhana is seen punching a man in the face while bystanders remain silent.

Posting on X, Chaturvedi wrote: 'Meet Shah Sena's MLA Sanjay Gaikwad. Last year, he had threatened & announced 11 lakh rupees to anyone who cuts off Sh. Rahul Gandhi's tongue. Now the man is seen beating up a poor, helpless canteen worker. But wait no news TV outrage here since it’s a BJP ally.'

This controversy follows months after Sanjay Gaikwad drew sharp criticism for his earlier comments about Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

Reacting to Gandhi’s remarks during a 2024 address in the United States, Gaikwad had said: 'The kind of statement made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has exposed the true face of the Congress. During the Lok Sabha elections, they sought votes by spreading lies that the Constitution was in danger, claiming the BJP would change it. Today, in America, he said that the reservation system established by Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar would be dismantled. These words have come from his mouth. Whoever cuts his tongue, I will give them INR 11 lakh.'

Gandhi, while speaking at the University of Texas, had said that Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs lacked adequate representation in Indian governance and policymaking.

'If you look at the Indian government, there are 70 bureaucrats who run the government, secretaries to the Government of India. These are the individuals who make almost all the financial decisions. Out of these 70 people, there is one tribal, three Dalits, three OBCs, and a minority. Ninety per cent of India's population has access to less than 10 per cent of the positions that determine how money is spent. When you look at the financial figures, tribals receive 10 paise out of every INR 100, Dalits get INR 5, and OBCs a similar amount,' Gandhi had said.

(ANI)