Anitha R Radhakrishnan, Tamil Nadu Minister for Fisheries – Fishermen Welfare and Animal Husbandry, who visited the Palaverkadu area in Thiruvallur district to inspect sea erosion on July 8, Thursday was seen on camera being carried by people to the shore as he was reportedly hesitant to wet his white shoes. The visuals show the minister getting out of a boat around which there is ankle deep water. A red chair is placed for him so that he can step on it. After he does that, the visuals show a man carrying the minister to the shore, while a few others help him.
The minister reacted saying that the people carried him out of love and he never asked them to do it. As per reports, Minister Anitha visited the Palaverkadu area to inspect sea erosion. After he got down from his car and reached the sea shore, the fishermen at the location placed a chair for him to climb onto the boat.
After several fishermen along with department officials got on the boat, the boat started shaking visibly, which forced a few to move to another boat. After the minister finished with his inspection, when he returned to the shore, the residents placed a chair for him to get down from the boat. As he was visibly hesitant to get his shoes wet, one of the fishermen nearby carried him to the shore, which was barely 10 feet away.
After the video went viral on social media, the minister received backlash from netizens who pointed out the VIP culture among ministers and higher officials.
Sixty-eight-year-old Anitha Radhakrishnan was elected from the Tiruchendur constituency. He is a five-time MLA and was with the AIADMK prior to 2009.
Watch: The Minister being carried by a few fishermen