Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faced intense criticism from opposition parties in the Assembly on Wednesday after making a controversial remark to an RJD MLA. During a heated debate, Kumar, responding to loud protests, asked an RJD MLA, “You are a woman, don’t you know anything?”
The comment provoked a strong reaction from senior RJD leader and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, who accused Kumar of frequently making derogatory comments about women.
Opposition Uproar Over Reservation and Special Status
The Assembly session saw Kumar and his government under heavy attack from opposition MLAs, particularly those from the RJD and Congress, with whom he was allied until early this year. Opposition members chanted slogans like “Nitish Kumar Hai Hai” (Down with Nitish Kumar), criticizing his government for its handling of reservation policies and the demand for special status for Bihar.
Last month, the Patna High Court struck down the Bihar government’s decision to increase the reservation cap in government jobs and educational institutions to 65%. The state government faced another blow when the Union government, of which Kumar’s party, the Janata Dal-United (JDU), is a part, declared there was no justification for granting special status to Bihar.
In response to the protests, Kumar stated that the government plans to challenge the Patna High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court. However, this did not appease the opposition.
Kumar’s Outburst
As the opposition’s protests continued, Kumar, visibly frustrated, launched into a tirade, saying, “You are a woman, don’t you know anything? Have you [the opposition] ever done anything to empower women? We will speak, and if you don’t listen, it’s your fault.” His remarks only intensified the opposition’s uproar, with members shouting even louder. Despite the disruption, Kumar continued his speech, defending his government’s efforts to support disadvantaged communities.
Tejashwi Yadav’s Response
Tejashwi Yadav took to social media to condemn Kumar’s comments, posting in Hindi on X: “Making cheap, unwanted, uncivilized, and rude comments against women has become a habit of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This is a very serious and worrying issue for the state.”
Yadav also recalled a recent incident where Kumar made a derogatory comment about the appearance of a BJP woman MLA from the tribal community. He pointed out that Kumar’s latest comment was directed at Rekha Paswan, a two-time Scheduled Caste woman MLA.
Past Controversies
This is not the first time Nitish Kumar has stirred controversy with his remarks in the Assembly. In November last year, he faced backlash after suggesting that educating women would help them avoid pregnancy. Following outrage from BJP leaders, who were in opposition at the time, Kumar apologized and retracted his statement. The recent incident has added to the ongoing tensions between Nitish Kumar and the opposition in Bihar, highlighting the challenges his government faces in addressing sensitive issues and maintaining political decorum in the Assembly.
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