Tariq’s piggyback ride sparks political slugfest

Patna: Congress MP from Katihar, Tariq Anwar, courted controversy after a video went viral on social media on Monday showing him being carried on a villager’s back during a flood inspection in his constituency on Sunday.The footage shows residents wading through waterlogged fields while carrying the MP. Tariq defended himself, saying he felt “unwell”, but BJP accused him of misusing his position and exploiting the common people.BJP termed the act an insult to the public. “Added more pain to the victim. How long will the Congress continue to insult the poor and rural people in this manner?” BJP posted on X.Senior BJP leader and deputy CM Samrat Choudhary also mocked the Katihar MP, saying that the “Congress party always walks in the lap of others.”

He was referring to BJP’s charge that Congress follows RJD’s dictates in Bihar.Tariq, however, defended the incident. “In fact, the BJP and the ministers should have gone there. I went there because that's my constituency. I felt like the effect of sunstroke because of extreme heat and linking it with politics is wrong. It was people’s love. That also indicated that people are ready to carry the opposition on their shoulders in this assembly election,” he said.

BJP spokesman Kuntal Krishna said this reflected the Congress culture.JD(U) spokesman Abhishek Jha added that it was strange the “Congress MP has himself become a burden for the people. People will soon drop the Mahagathbandhan leaders from their shoulders.”RJD spokesman Mritunjay Tiwary countered by saying that it’s the people who carry a leader on their shoulders to Parliament.The MP was on a two-day visit to the flood-affected areas of the Manihari assembly segment in Katihar.