Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Apologises for Population Control Remark

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar apologised on Wednesday for his controversial remarks on women’s education and population control. The apology came after widespread condemnation from various sections of society.

“I apologize and take back my words. I am ashamed of what I have said and tender an apology”. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said in the state assembly.

Nitish Kumar clarified that his intention was not to offend anyone and that he has always advocated for women’s empowerment and their overall development. He emphasized the importance of education in population control.  

“My intention was not to hurt anyone. I have always maintained that education is important for population control. As you are aware I have always stood for women's empowerment and their overall development”, Nitish Kumar added.

Nitish Kumar faced criticism from the opposition for the statement he gave on Tuesday while explaining why Bihar’s fertility rate dropped from 4.2 to 2.9 per cent. Addressing the house after the caste survey and socio-economic report was tabled he stated that educated women can restrain their husbands during sexual intercourse.

Nitish Kumar faced backlash over the manner and language he used in explaining the members of the house.

“How can anyone tolerate such lewd remarks against the women members? This is totally unacceptable”, women members of the BJP said.

Later National Commission for Women also termed the speech “vulgar” and demanded his apology.

The BJP MLAs also refused to accept the Chief Minister’s apology and staged a protest within the assembly. They demanded the resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, who defended Nitish Kumar's remark as “sex education”.

“How can anyone accept an apology from a Chief Minister who doesn’t understand what he is saying? Such crude remarks against women are not acceptable, and he must resign from his post. His deputy (Tejashwi Yadav) speaking in his defence and calling his remark as ‘sex education’ is also unacceptable” “leader of the opposition in Bihar assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha told reporters.  

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi expressed his displeasure with Nitish Kumar’s remarks, terming them “derogatory” and “sexist”. He said that his repetition of the controversial statement in the state council suggests that he is unfit to hold the position of Chief Minister. Sushil Modi further suggested that Nitish Kumar should step down and make way for a deserving member of the Extremely Backward Community (EBC)

“The statement was derogatory and sexist. After his remark on women in the Bihar assembly, he also repeated it in the state council. This shows that he is not fit to hold the post of Chief Minister anymore. He is not well and keeps forgetting things. Time has come for him to step down from his post and make way for a deserving member belonging to an EBC community”. Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said.

In the second half when the House convened, the opposition continued to disrupt the House proceedings. Leader of the opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha, engaged in a heated exchange with the assembly speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, accused him of being the spokesperson of the state government.

 “I used to be the speaker before you, so I understand the importance of the chair and the members. I know how to respect the house. You are not allowing the opposition to express their views and behaving like the spokesperson for the state government”. Leader of the opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha said.

He stated that “the assembly is a temple of democracy and not for discussing subjects like sex education. Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav defended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and called his remark sex education. How can you call this appropriate? He (Tejashwi) should also apologize and step down”.

However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Chaudhary defended Nitish Kumar and accused the BJP of orchestrating disturbances on the orders from Delhi.   He also urged the assembly speaker to remove the statements of the leader of the opposition.

“They didn’t oppose when Nitish Kumar gave the statement on Tuesday. It seems they got their orders to create such scenes in the house from Delhi”, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said in the state assembly.