india

Updated: May 06, 2019 21:37 IST

Goa Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai sparked outrage on Monday after a video of him knocking a phone out of a government official’s hand in anger when it rang during an interaction went viral.

While Sardesai later apologised, the government official Siddhivinayak Naik, Chief Officer of the Margao Municipal Council in South Goa said it was “partly his fault” also that his phone was not on silent mode while standing right next to the minister during an important discussion.

“Throw away the phone,” Sardesai shouts no sooner the phone rings and slaps the phone out of the officer’s hand. The officer then picks up the phone and holds it in his hand.

“You do not do any work. You are useless and your chairperson is also useless,” Sardesai is also heard saying in the video.

The minister and officers were inspecting a garbage dump in South Goa when the incident took place.

The video elicited a range of reactions on social media condemning the deputy chief minister for the way he treated the officer.

“This happens when power of chair hits ur head,” wrote a Twitter user..

Shocking Act by dy cm Vijai Sardesai. https://t.co/0vFoRf1R05 — Chowkidar Sagar Prabhu Lawande (@SagarLawande) May 6, 2019

The opposition Congress also attacked him. “The legislature is trying to subdue the executive by treating them as peons. This action by the minister smacks of dictatorial attitude,” Congress spokesperson Trajano D’Mello said.

The deputy chief minister later apologised saying he was irritated with the ringing phone when a topic of such seriousness being discussed.

“I regret that I lost my cool and have expressed the same with MMC’s Chief Officer,” Sardesai said.

Naik said: “My phone rang at that time. I get calls continuously. It becomes irritating. I was standing right in front within the radius of the deputy CM’s arm. He hit my arm and the phone fell. The mistake was also partly on my side. It is some etiquette that I should have observed to keep the phone on silent mode when the discussion was on,” Naik said.