Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons. He had come to attend the 10th session of the Bihar legislative assembly on 7th November 2023. While speaking on the topic of the caste census report, CM Kumar highlighted the significance & need of educating India’s women for population control. CM Kumar said “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 gave a detailed account of how an educated woman can influence the frequency of sexual intercourse with her husband & guide him during the intercourse to ensure that sex does not necessarily end in pregnancy. CM Kumar also explained how this can help in keeping the population in check & under control. Immediately CM Kumar’s speech earned him severe backlash from NCW – National Commission for Women and harsh criticism from his opposition. Bihar BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha slammed CM Kumar by saying that he has lost his mental balance. He demanded Kumar’s resignation & even staged a protest inside the assembly. Another BJP & Lok Sabha member Nishkant Dubey called CM Kumar’s statement “porn storytelling.” BJP leader Vijay Sinha said that CM Kumar has embarrassed the women in the assembly and shamed the women of the land of Maa Janki (Sita). He too demanded his resignation & called him unfit for sitting in the assembly. An official complaint against CM Kumar was also filed in Muzaffarpur court by lawyer Anil Kumar Singh. The hearing in the matter will take place on 25th November 2023. PM Modi too made a remark on the topic but without mentioning Kumar’s name. PM Modi said “A politician who is acting as the flag bearer of the I.N.D.I.A group is playing several games to uproot the current central government; this leader said something unimaginable inside the assembly in front of women politicians. He made obscene remarks. Koi sharm nahi hai unko.” However, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav also defended Kumar by saying that his remarks should not be misinterpreted and that people are sometimes embarrassed to talk about sex and sex education.” Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor hit out at Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav for defending Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's controversial remarks. He said, "Tejashwi has no knowledge about sex education as he did not attend school. People know he did not even clear Class 9. Tejashwi Yadav's comments on Nitish Kumar's remarks demonstrate his lack of knowledge.” After facing so much backlash & criticism, CM Kumar apologized to the country through news channels. He said “If I have said certain things that have been inviting so much criticism…If my saying was wrong, I apologize for it. I take back my words. If my statement is being criticized, I apologize..” He also defended his statement by saying that the census showed them that if a man and woman are matric pass (graduated class 10), then the fertility rate is at 2 & if the woman (has graduated) inter or more (class 12 or above) then the fertility rate is 1.6.” He said that he was happy to know this & therefore suggested educating women speedily by taking measures to ensure education till class 12 for women across Bihar. Despite CM Kumar’s apology, opposition parties mainly BJP & National Commission for Women are still unsatisfied & furious. They are still demanding his resignation. Let’s see what happens next on this issue.

Tags

• nitish kuma
• bihar cm
• population
• women

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