Outrage Over Nitish Kumar’s Sexist, Misogynist Remarks In Assembly

On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) insisted that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar must hand in his resignation over his ‘population control’ remark despite Kumar’s apology in the state assembly. The BJP claimed he head “lost his mental balance”. Nishikant Dubey launched the sharpest attack on BJP’s ally-turned-opponent on Kumar, who branded his remarks as “pron story telling”.

“Do listen to Mahaguru Nitishanand Maharaj’s porn story telling and keep the population in control,” the BJP MP wrote in a sarcastic post on X.

On Tuesday, the Bihar chief minister described how a woman can restrain her husband during sexual intercourse. “The husband’s acts led to more births. However, with education, a woman knows how to restrain him…this is the reason the numbers (of births) are coming down.” He was purportedly speaking on the importance of education among women to control population in Bihar on Tuesday but ended up trigeering a massive political row.

On Wednesday, Kumar apologised for his remarks in the assembly and said, ” I take back my words.” However, the apology did not seem to placate the BJP.

“I think each person in Bihar must be ashamed that their CM is using such obscene language in the Assembly…It’s a third-grade statement…Nitish Kumar has lost his mind,” said Union minister R.K. Singh on Wednesday.

“His statements are to shame women. This is the land of the Maa Janki. The whole country saw how he embarrassed women in the Assembly. CM has lost his memory… He should resign… He is no more worthy of sitting in the Assembly,” said BJP leader Vijay Sinha. Sushil Modi, another BJP leader, termed his remarks sexist. “Even though he has apologised, the entire Bihar state is ashamed. How did he have the courage to make such a sexist statement?” said Modi.

“His remarks were highly objectionable. Only a person, who has lost his mental bearings, can use such crass words against women. He is no longer worthy of holding the CM’s office. He has lowered the country’s image by sullying its culture. He should extend an unqualified apology and retire from politics,” Union minister Nityanand Rai told ANI, stressing that Kumar has lost his mental balance.

“The Legislative Assembly is a sacred place…it has a certain sanctity…It was a vulgar language. He could have said that women if educated enough would be able to decide when to have children but instead, he described it through his words and gestures which was inappropriate,” said AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Meanwhile, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma termed Kumar’s remark as ‘derogatory’ to women. “The way he spoke was like a C-Grade movie dialogue in the assembly in front of women and the worst thing was the men sitting behind him were laughing… His actions and gestures were almost like an ugly joke… The worst is this, the Speaker hasn’t expunged them yet… Bihar Assembly Speaker should take steps against him, his statements must be expunged,” she said, demanding that the remarks must be expunged from the assembly’s records.

However, on Tuesday, Bihar deputy chief minister and Nitish Kumar’s ally Tejashwi Yadav downplayed the remarks. He said, “Let me tell you one thing. It is wrong if someone misinterprets it. The statement of the CM was regarding sex education. People are hesitant whenever the topic of sex education is discussed. This is now taught in schools. Science and biology are taught in schools. Children learn it. He said what should be done practically to stop the increase in population… This should not be taken in a wrong manner. It should be taken as a sex education,” he had said.