Naran Patel, the vice president of Vyara Milk Society from Waghodia taluka, was at the receiving end of Srivastav's ire when he stood up to ask questions on the occasion.

Patel was seeking the rationale for decreasing the milk price paid to the farmers at a time when the price for cattle feed had increased. He also raised questions about the Narmada river water project, in which Srivastav has taken personal interest.

Annoyed with this, Srivastav asked his personal security guards to take out Patel from the meeting, which was being attended by members of various milk societies from Waghodia and Vadodara Rural. Later, the guards manhandled him and he was asked to submit his queries in writing.

"This has never happened in the last 17 years. The Milk Day is meant to raise questions and ask questions to the directors as well as the management. The proceedings are all verbal, now they insist questions have to be submitted in writing," said Patel.

When Srivastav later tried to make up for the incident with a public apology, members of societies including women office bearers, raised a din about the treatment meted out to Patel.

Ajit Thakore, the Congress director in the dairy who was not present on the occasion, later said, "We are not too surprised at the turn of events. Srivastav does not understand anything about dairy or co-operatives, yet he has been made the chairman. He is trying his muscle flexing here too."

The milk societies said that the message from the incident has gone across to the chairman of all dairies.