Recently, Tamil Nadu’s Fisheries Minister, Anitha R Radhakrishnan, was out on an inspection after locals complained of soil erosion. According to News18, he was carried from a boat to the dry land on the shoulders of the fishermen.
Have a look at the video here:
#WATCH | Fishermen carry Tamil Nadu Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan on shoulders after he refuses to step into the water during an inspection at Thiruvallur district where fishermen had complained of erosion. pic.twitter.com/55R7PTpk1j
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2021
According to India Today, when the boat came to the shore, the fishermen kept a chair in front of the boat so that the minister could get off. They allegedly saw his “hesitation to get his shoes wet” after which they carried him to the dry land.
This act attracted strong criticism online who accused the minister of treating the fishermen like his “servants”. Many called it ‘VIP culture’. Have a look at some of the reactions here:
Sahi kiya warna pani ganda ho jata iske VIP paun se.
— Ashish (@AshishRanjanN14) July 8, 2021
No fault of the minister ,he is wearing white shoes.everybody know how much maintainance they want to keep them shining white .
— Shuà¤am (@Shubham36688142) July 8, 2021
How long will common man take the burden ? feel sad. An elected representative should serve people, and not the other way. Hope things change soon. @mkstalin
— Wear Masks Save Lifes! (@Ragav17) July 8, 2021
A mass leader must mixed himself/herself with general people or followers.
This Minister differ himself from fishery man.— prasenjit chakraborty (@prasenj52734714) July 8, 2021
Kya yeh sevak hai? Yeh toh Malik lag raha hai aur Janta uski sevak..
— Bikash Jain🇮🇳 (@bikashsurana) July 8, 2021
Ye India hai, yanha neta apne aap ko Bhagwan samjh lete hai.
— Sunit Singh Rajawat (@RajawatSunit) July 9, 2021
He is entitled. He is a minister. He can sit on our head…
— Abhijit Banerjee 🇮🇳 (@abhijit118) July 8, 2021
Are these public servants? 😂😂😂
Seems like public acts as a servent for these people.— Modified Vikas 🇮🇳 (@VikasModified) July 8, 2021
Responding to the criticism, the minister alleged that the fishermen themselves offered to carry him out of “affection”.
“It is only wrong if I demand to climb on their shoulders. A Fisheries Minister can climb on a Fisherman’s shoulder only, who else shoulder can he climb on?” he said.
What do you think of this incident? Tell us.