KANPUR, Aug. 7 -- Amid the flood situation in several parts of the state, Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Sanjay Nishad's remark during a visit to a flood-hit village in Kanpur Dehat district's Bhognipur tehsil has triggered strong public and political reactions. "Ganga maiya comes to wash the feet of her sons. Just her darshan ensures direct passage to heaven," Nishad was filmed telling residents when people raised concern over the floods. Sanjay Nishad is also the founder-president of the Nishad Party, an alliance partner of the BJP government in the state. He made the remark on Monday. The video has since gone viral, sparking criticism over the perceived insensitivity of the comment, especially in a region where people have lost homes, livestock and crops to the floodwaters. Locals, however, were quick to point out that Bhognipur is situated near the Yamuna river, not the Ganga. "At the very least, a minister should know which river is flowing here," one villager was heard saying. In another clip from the same visit, BJP district president Renuka Sachan, who accompanied the minister, purportedly told an elderly woman that it was her "good fortune" that "Yamuna maiya" came to give her darshan. The woman sharply replied, "Then why don't you stay here and enjoy it every day?" Her reply too was widely shared on social media platforms. Reacting to Nishad's remark, UP Congress president Ajay Rai said, "Mother Ganga is respected by all, including Hindus and Muslims. This statement has just made fun of the people's faith." Much of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh has been affected by a flood-like situation due to the rising level of major rivers, including the Ganga and the Yamuna. In Bhognipur, many villages remain submerged, farmlands have been inundated and livestock swept away. Several residents have taken shelter on higher ground or temporary relief camps....