‘Didn't know he was Muslim’: Sena MP over force-feeding a Muslim staffer during Ramzan

Mumbai: Under fire for ‘forcing’ a Maharashtra Sadan Muslim staffer on fast to eat a chapati, Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare said on Wednesday that he was sorry if anyone's ‘religious sentiments were hurt’.

Talking to TV channel CNN-IBN, Vichare said that he was not aware about the religion of the canteen staffer, Ashraf Zubair.

Vichare added he had just complained about the bad quality of food and asked Ashraf to taste the food, which was not ‘even fit for animals’.

Read: Alleged action of Sena MPs shows their mindset: Kamal Nath

Earlier in the day, a video surfaced showing Vichare allegedly forcing a Muslim worker to eat a chapati to break his Ramzan fast on Wednesday.

Watch: Shiv Sena MPs force Muslim staff to eat during Ramzan fast

The controversy created uproar in both Houses of Parliament. As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, several Opposition members raised the issue and termed it as violation of religious beliefs.

Members from Congress, RJD, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM were on their feet raising the issue. PDP members too were seen waiving a paper but they could not be heard in the din.

AIADMK members were seen waiving a copy of an English daily but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked them not to raise the same question every time.

Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare forcing a Muslim staff in Maharashtra Sadan, New Delhi, to eat 'roti' during his Roza (Photo: PTI)

The Speaker said the members should allow the Question Hour to proceed smoothly and she would allow the issue to be raised during Zero Hour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House when the issue was raised.

It was reported that a group of around 11 Shiv Sena MPs, apparently angry over not being served Maharashtrian food, allegedly forced a Muslim catering superviser who was fasting for Ramzan to eat a chapati at the new Maharashtra Sadan in the national capital last week.

Watch: Rajan Vichare says ready to apologies to caterer