Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar got into a heated argument in the state legislative council on Friday after he claimed that women in the state had no issues. His remarks came in response to questions from opposition leaders regarding higher education for women in Bihar.
The argument started when RJD MLC Urmila Thakur expressed dissatisfaction with Education Minister Sunil Kumar’s response to a question she had raised. She highlighted that in her district, Begusarai, many girls are unable to attend school because they have to walk four to five kilometers to reach the nearest one.
Defending his government’s efforts, Kumar said, “Do you even know what we have done for girls’ education? In Bihar, village girls hardly went to school before we came to power.”
Thakur, however, disagreed and cited her own example: “Sir, please don’t say that. I also come from a village. I belong to an older generation, yet I completed my schooling.”
Political clash escalates
Another RJD MLC, Munni Devi Rajak, then joined the debate and asked Kumar, “Do you even know what has been done for women? You may be women yourselves, but what have you contributed?”
Visibly upset, Kumar took a direct swipe at former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, saying, “When her husband (Lalu Prasad Yadav) was sinking, he made his wife the Chief Minister.”
Continuing his attack on the RJD’s rule, Kumar said, “Your party did nothing. You people know nothing. Whatever has been done for women, I have done it. Now, women have no problems.”
Tejashwi Yadav slams Nitish Kumar
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticised Kumar’s remarks, reminding him that Rabri Devi was Bihar’s first female chief minister.
“CM Nitish Kumar should remember that Rabri Devi was the first female CM of Bihar. His declining health shows he is no longer capable of running the state. The position of CM carries dignity, and the language he used for Rabri Devi was inappropriate,” Yadav said.
Past controversy over women’s clothing comment
Kumar’s latest remark comes after he previously sparked outrage with comments about how women dress. Referring to the progress of women, he had said, “Girls have become so confident. They speak well and dress so well. Did we see them wearing such fine clothes earlier?”
His comment led to sharp criticism from Tejashwi Yadav, who sarcastically suggested that Kumar should “become a women’s clothing scientist.”
“You are the CM, not a fashion designer. Stop exposing your outdated thinking by acting like a ‘women’s clothing expert.’ This isn’t just a statement, it’s an insult to half of Bihar’s population,” Yadav said.
According to the 2011 census, Bihar’s female literacy rate stands at 53.33%, significantly lower than the male literacy rate of 73.39%. The debate over women’s education continues to be a critical issue in the state.
Also Read: BJP to support Nitish Kumar post-polls: Bihar Deputy CM
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