Patna: A day after sparking a controversy by offering suggestions on population control, drawing criticism for his use of “vulgar and derogatory” language, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar apologised for it Wednesday.
“I am asking for forgiveness. I am criticising myself for the statement I made,” he said.
The CM made the statement even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs stormed into the well of the house, demanding his resignation.
The chaos in the Bihar Vidhan Sabha continued despite Nitish’s apology, with MLAs of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (United) ruling alliance heckling the BJP MLAs. The Speaker subsequently adjourned the Assembly till 2 pm.
Even before the house had assembled for the day, Nitish had made an apology before media persons, saying that he felt ashamed for making such a statement.
The ruling alliance was stressing that the BJP was blowing the issue out of proportion.
“The chief minister Tuesday was pointing out that Bihar’s fertility rate had dropped from 4.2 to 2.1 within a span of 12 years because of his government’s efforts to educate girls,” Parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary told ThePrint. “It is a big achievement. The CM has already apologised for the language, but the opposition is bent on making ‘til ka taad’ (a big deal) of the issue.”
Kumar’s words in the Assembly Tuesday — linking women’s education to population control — snowballed into political and public outrage because of the language he used.
The chief minister gave a rather vivid description of sex and contraception while explaining that an educated woman would know when to stop her husband during sexual intercourse. He credited that for the drop in Bihar’s fertility rate.
Kumar went on to make the same remarks in the legislative council later.
BJP says the issue is not confined to 72-year-old Nitish’s statement inside the Legislative houses.
“Nitish Kumar’s age is catching up with him. His mental health appears to be failing. He forgets facts and makes statements which have no meaning. He is incapable of leading the state and should make a graceful exit,” said Vijay Kumar Sinha, Leader of the Opposition, Bihar Legislative Assembly, to ThePrint.
In September, during a janata darbar meeting, the CM had given orders to officials to call the home minister — a position he holds himself.
In a party programme at JD(U)’s office a few months ago, women party workers complained that they were being harassed by male party workers. “The men will do it. It’s for you to stop them,” Nitish had remarked, recalled a party worker.
JD(U) leaders are tight lipped, but a party MLA, on condition of anonymity, said to ThePrint: “We know that the CM is saying and doing things he would not have said or done before. Nitish was always known for maintaining public dignity in his work and words.”
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)