RJD MLA crosses river on shoulders of Dalit man in Jharkhand
A video showing Naresh Prasad Singh being carried across the Dhuria river has sparked political controversy in Palamu district.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Naresh Prasad Singh was seen being carried on the shoulders of a man to cross the Dhuria river in Jharkhand's Palamu district on Monday evening. According to Moneycontrol, the Bishrampur Assembly constituency representative was travelling to Ghasidag panchayat for a religious programme when the incident occurred.
The footage shows the man, identified as a member of the Dalit community, losing his balance midway through the crossing. Both Singh and the villager fell into the knee-deep water, though both managed to get back on their feet without serious injury.
Ghasidag panchayat head Anju Devi criticised the MLA, stating that his decision to use a villager's shoulders reflected his attitude towards the Dalit community. She noted that residents have repeatedly demanded a bridge over the Dhuria river to ease travel difficulties.
BSP leader Rahul Dubey said elected representatives should be mindful of the hardships faced by ordinary residents, such as when seeking medical assistance. BJP Palamu district president Amit Tiwari also targeted the Jharkhand government, which is led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and includes the RJD.
Singh's representative, Dhananjay Paswan, stated that he is collecting information regarding the incident and will provide an official response once he has the details.