Congress MP Tariq Anwar Faces Backlash Over Video of Being Carried by Villagers in Bihar Flood Areas
In a surprising turn of events in Bihar’s Katihar district, Congress MP Tariq Anwar has sparked major controversy after a video went viral. The clip shows him being carried on a villager’s back while inspecting flood-hit areas. This has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals, who call it insensitive to the flood victims’ struggles.
Tariq Anwar, the MP from Katihar, visited his constituency for two days to check the flood damage. He used tractors and boats to reach remote spots and talk to affected people. But this particular video has stolen the spotlight. It captures a villager piggybacking Anwar, with others holding him steady from behind. Even a police officer joins in to help.
Political opponents jumped on the video right away. The BJP and its allies slammed Anwar for what they see as a lack of empathy for Bihar flood victims. Bihar Minister Prem Kumar didn’t hold back. He said, "Anwar was there just for photos and videos—that’s not right. He should have worked with the administration to solve the real problems."
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal took a sarcastic dig too. Speaking to reporters, he asked, "If Anwar needs villagers to carry him on their backs during flood inspections, how can he show real sympathy to devastated people? Farmers are suffering from floods, and here he is, getting a free ride from them. This mocks their pain."
The JD(U) party also piled on the criticism. National spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called the incident "sad" and pointed out Anwar’s long career as a senior MP. He told reporters, "Workers and the public won’t carry your burden—you should carry theirs. You don’t even need to do that much; just wipe away their tears. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the one who truly cares. He ensures relief materials reach everyone."
Kumar also took a swipe at past governments, saying, "When Congress ruled Bihar, there was no proper disaster management. Nitish Kumar changed that. Times have changed with social media everywhere. Tariq Anwar, if you keep focusing on yourself like this, people will just laugh at you."
Not everyone agrees with the backlash, though. The Samajwadi Party (SP) defended Anwar, blaming it on his age. SP MP Virendra Singh said, "We don’t know the exact situation on the ground. At 75 years old, Tariq Anwar might have faced some issues. Only he can explain what happened."
This Bihar flood controversy has ignited debates on social media about how leaders should handle disaster visits. As floods continue to affect Katihar and other areas, many wonder if such stunts help or hurt the real relief efforts. Stay tuned for updates on this political row.
