Congress Leader Seen Pulling Samajwadi Party MP's Rickshaw at Sambhal Event

By Rajat Malhotra

A picture from Sambhal has become a topic of discussion in political circles. The image shows Samajwadi Party MP Jiya Ur Rehman Barq sitting on a rickshaw, while senior Congress leader Mushir Tareen Khan is seen pulling it.

The picture has drawn attention because it is being viewed as more than a light-hearted moment. People present at the spot jokingly remarked, “देख लो, संभल में सपा को कांग्रेस ही खींच रही है।” The remark has added a political angle to the image and intensified the discussion around it.

What happened at the event?

It is being reported that an educational / cultural event / fair was organised in Sambhal. Samajwadi Party MP Jiya Ur Rehman Barq attended the programme as the chief guest. Congress leader and former candidate Mushir Tareen Khan was also present at the event.

During a children’s programme, the MP sat on a decorated rickshaw with a child in his lap. Congress leader Mushir Tareen then began pulling the rickshaw while laughing. People present at the event captured the moment on camera.

The picture has since gone viral on social media. Its unusual and informal setting has led people to interpret the moment in different ways, both as a friendly interaction and as a political message.

INDIA alliance angle

Political analysts say that although the incident appears to have been a light-hearted and humorous moment, it is being given several political interpretations. The Samajwadi Party and Congress are allies in Uttar Pradesh under the INDIA alliance. The two parties had contested the Lok Sabha election together.

Against this backdrop, the sight of a Congress leader pulling the rickshaw carrying an SP MP is being seen as a sign of the alliance’s strength and cordial relations between the two parties. The interaction has also drawn attention because it took place in a public programme and was recorded by people present there.

At the same time, BJP supporters have started taking a dig at the picture. They say the image reflects what they describe as the reality of Uttar Pradesh politics: that the Samajwadi Party’s existence in the state depends on Congress support, and that Congress is the party pulling it forward.

What did Mushir Tareen Khan say?

After the picture went viral, Congress leader Mushir Tareen Khan said with a laugh that “the MP is our guest and like a younger brother.” He said that pulling the rickshaw was a symbol of respect.

Mushir Tareen Khan also said, “We are all working together to take Sambhal’s Ganga-Jamuni culture forward.” His statement presented the incident as a friendly gesture and linked it to the shared cultural traditions of Sambhal.

There has been no official reaction from MP Jiya Ur Rehman Barq on the matter. However, a smile is clearly visible on his face in the picture. This is being seen as an indication of the good relationship between the two leaders.

For now, the image has become the biggest topic of discussion in Sambhal’s political circles. People are viewing it from different perspectives, with some seeing a friendly moment at a children’s programme and others reading a political message into the scene.