Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Health minister Narendra Shivaji Patel has called the food safety team to a hotel in Gwalior for taking the samples of food items. Patel took the action, for the restaurant management denied him a table.
Patel’s action kicked up a row on Monday. The Congress also took Patel to task, and the BJP organisation sought feedback from the minister.
Patel, however, said he had had been inspecting the restaurants to check food items. “Is is possible that the restaurant management will deny him a table to take food?” he said.
The restaurant owner is angry with him, for he took the samples of food items, Patel said. The restaurant owner is making such allegations to defame him, the minister said.
Patel has sent clarifications to the party organisation. According to sources, Patel has received a dressing-down from the party for his act. The organisation is angry, for Patel got a seat booked at the restaurant through the food safety officer before going there.
The organisation has advised him to keep his conduct under check. The Congress took the government to task over the issue. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said power had intoxicated the ministers of this government.
The administration came in support of the minister who did not get a seat in a restaurant, Singhar said. They beat up the hotel owner and took the samples of foodstuff, he said. Singhar wanted to know whether such conduct was part of the public service.
