“I apologize, take back my words,” says Nitish Kumar after a row over his population control remarks

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar issued an apology on Wednesday for his remarks in the state assembly regarding the role of women in population growth. Speaking to reporters, Kumar expressed regret and withdrew his earlier comments. His initial statements triggered controversy, as he suggested that women should be educated to help them avoid unintended pregnancies, emphasizing the importance of girls’ education to curb population growth.

The remarks had drawn criticism from various quarters, including the BJP and the National Commission for Women (NCW), which called for an unconditional apology from the Chief Minister. In response to the criticism, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned Kumar’s comments as “despicable, disgusting, atrocious, obnoxious, and anti-women.” Union Minister of State Nityanand Rai criticized Kumar, stating that he had lost his “mental stability” and calling for an apology and Kumar’s disassociation from politics.

However, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav defended Nitish Kumar, asserting that the remarks were related to sex education and should not be misinterpreted. Yadav emphasized that the comments should be understood in the context of sex education and the practical steps to control population growth.