‘Ganga at your doorstep to wash your feet': UP minister Sanjay Nishad's flood remark draws flak; opposition calls it insult to suffering, faith

Time of India

2 hours ago

Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Minister Sanjay Nishad sparked controversy during a visit to flood-hit Kanpur Dehat by telling a woman the Ganga had arrived to "clean your feet." The comment drew criticism from opposition parties, who deemed it insensitive amid widespread flooding in Uttar Pradesh.
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Sanjay Nishad courted controversy during his visit to a flood-hit area in Kanpur Dehat after telling a woman that the Ganga river had reached her doorstep "to clean your feet".
The comment, made while the woman stood ankle-deep in floodwater, triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties, who accused the minister of being insensitive to the suffering of flood-affected residents.
In a video that surfaced on social media on Tuesday, the minister is seen speaking to a woman and saying, 'Ganga river reaches your door steps to clean your feet and this will take you directly to heaven."
In response, the woman is heard saying, "Take the blessing of Ganga yourself."
However, it is unclear whether the remark was directed at the minister or at another woman present nearby.
Several districts of Uttar Pradesh — including Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Varanasi — have been grappling with rising water levels in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers over the past few days.
Facing criticism, Nishad clarified that his comment was made in a lighter vein and in the context of local religious beliefs.
"I was on a visit to a flood-hit area of Nishads where while interacting with them I said that for seeking salvation, people from far away place come to take the holy dip in Ganges and here Ganga 'maiya' was right at their doorstep," Nishad told PTI.
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"We Nishads worship rivers, our source of life and livelihoods. So the remark has its own context," he added.
Nishad, who heads the NISHAD Party, a BJP ally in Uttar Pradesh, also reportedly referred to a viral video of a policeman from the Nishad community in Prayagraj. The video showed the cop worshipping Ganga water at his doorstep and swimming in the floodwaters.
"Yes, the minister did make a mention of the Prayagraj cop as he too is a Nishad and again the reference was to merely highlight the high esteem in which Ganga maiya in particular and all other rivers in general are kept by the community," a minister's aide told PTI.
Opposition parties, however, slammed the minister for his remarks.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sharvendra Bikram Singh said, "He is not aware of the ground reality and the situation in which flood affected people are living. The state government has failed to provide relief to the people and its ministers are looking for photo opportunities. At a time when people are losing their homes and livelihoods due to floods, such statements show how disconnected UP ministers are from ground reality.
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Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Rai termed the minister's remarks as an "insult of faith".
"Such irresponsible statements are akin to 'astha ka apman'. There are ministers who are preaching swadeshi but moving about in swanky, imported cars," Rai said.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has formed a team of officers and ministers who are visiting flood-affected regions to oversee relief and rehabilitation measures.