Heaven, Ganga's touch: UP minister's spiritual take on Kanpur floods
UP Minister Sanjay Nishad stirred controversy during his visit to flood-hit Kanpur Dehat by telling locals, "Mother Ganga comes to wash the feet of Ganga-putras...Ganga-putras go straight to heaven."
Many felt this spiritual take downplayed the real struggles people are facing across several flooded districts.
Nishad clarifies on remarks
Nishad, who leads the Nishad Party and is also Fisheries Minister, said he meant his words as comfort while overseeing food distribution and other relief work.
He's part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's team tasked with managing disaster response in the worst-hit areas.
Balancing act
Nishad's comments highlight how tricky it is to communicate during disasters—balancing cultural beliefs with urgent needs.
While he hoped to inspire hope, many saw his remarks as out of touch with what displaced residents are going through.