Katihar: A controversy erupted during Congress MP Tariq Anwar’s visit to flood-affected areas of Katihar, Bihar, on Sunday, September 7, after a video surfaced showing villagers carrying him on their shoulders through inundated roads. The clip quickly went viral, triggering sharp reactions.

Anwar, on a two-day tour of his constituency, inspected flood-hit regions including Shivnagar-Sonakhal in Dhuryahi panchayat, along with Barari and Manihari assembly constituencies.

While criticism poured in, the Katihar District Congress President, Sunil Yadav, defended the MP, saying Anwar was feeling unwell due to the extreme heat after their vehicle got stuck in mud and they had to walk nearly two kilometers. According to Yadav, villagers carried him on their shoulders purely “out of love.”

The MP also posted photos and videos of his visit on social media, stating: “People are facing severe difficulties due to floods and river erosion. I stand with the affected families in this difficult time and appeal to the government for prompt relief and concrete solutions.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the incident, calling it an example of the Congress’s “sense of entitlement,” accusing the party of seeking VVIP treatment even in disaster-hit areas.

The flood situation in Bihar remains grim as major rivers including the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, and Ghagra continue to flow close to danger levels.