‘Stay and take blessings’: Prayagraj flood victim quips at UP minister who said ‘Ganga touching your feet’

Amid flood-like situation in the state, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad’s visit to the affected area in Kanpur Dehat sparked a controversy.

According to reports, Nishad purportedly told local residents that they are “Ganga’s children” and thus, the “Ganga river reaches your doorstep to clean your feet and this would take you directly to heaven”.

He made the remarks when the flood victims complained that they had lost their homes and had nowhere to go.

“Ganga Maiya to apne putron ke pair dhone aati hain…unke darshan se putra seedhe swarg jata hai…ye Virodhi log aapko ulta padhate hain’’ (Mother Ganga comes to wash the feet of its sons… the sons will go to heavens merely by its 'darshan'…the opposition parties misinform you),” Nishad was heard telling the residents in Bhognipur area in a video that surfaced on social media.
A woman, who was travelling along with the minister’s team, is purportedly heard trying to explain the minister’s remarks to an elderly woman, who in turn asks her to stay there with them and “take the blessings of Ganga yourself”.

Incessant rainfall in Uttar Pradesh  led to flood-like situation in 13 districts of the state, while major rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Betwa are flowing above the danger mark at several places, officials said in Varanasi on Monday.