The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has firmly rejected the apology extended by Bihar's Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, in response to his controversial 'population control' remark. The BJP continues to press for his resignation and has even asserted that Kumar's mental state has deteriorated. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam and a prominent BJP leader, has called for Kumar's removal, suggesting that he requires "rest and treatment."
Sarma emphasized that this wasn't the first instance of Kumar making such statements, indicating a decline in his mental well-being. He appealed to leaders of the Janata Dal United (JDU), Kumar's political party, to ensure his mental fitness for the position of Chief Minister. Sarma went on to claim that Kumar is currently unfit for this role, and his remarks suggested that he is "beemar" or unwell, making him unsuitable to lead the state.
He further argued that a Chief Minister with a compromised mental balance poses a threat to the state and urged Kumar's party to take the necessary steps to remove him from the position.
Kumar's controversial remarks were made during a discussion on the importance of education in population control in the Bihar assembly. In an attempt to illustrate a point, he used crude language, drawing widespread outrage. While he issued an apology the following day, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan rejected the apology, asserting that someone who disrespects women in such a manner has no right to hold the position of Chief Minister and should step down.
Amravati MP Navneet Rana echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to prioritize justice for women in Bihar rather than accepting Kumar's apology. She, too, called for his resignation.
The BJP's protest within the Bihar assembly continued for a second day, with party MLAs loudly demanding Kumar's resignation and leading to the adjournment of proceedings by the speaker until 2 pm.
On the previous day, Prime Minister Modi criticized Kumar's behavior, stating that it had brought disrepute to India. He expressed disbelief that a politician representing the INDI alliance would make such inappropriate comments within the assembly, particularly in front of female politicians. Modi questioned whether individuals with such views on women could truly serve the public and protect their honor, emphasizing the gravity of Kumar's actions.
